SummaryThe effect of the concentration of Ca2+ in the suspending medium of human and rabbit platelets on aggregation, release of 14C-serotonin, and TXB2 formation in response to ADP, thrombin, l-0-alkyl-2-acetyl-sn-glyceryl-3-phosphorylcholine (PAF), collagen and arachidonic acid was studied in either platelet-rich plasma anticoagulated with D-phenylalanyl-prolyl-arginyl chloromethylketone (PPACK) or citrate, or suspensions of washed platelets in modified Tyrode-albumin solutions containing 1 mM Mg2+ and concentrations of added Ca2+ ranging from 0 to 5 mM. In response to ADP, thrombin, or PAF, human platelets were stimulated to form TXA2 by close platelet contact in a low- Ca2+ medium; at physiological concentrations of Ca2+, TXB 2formation was much less and declined progressively as the concentration of Ca2+ was raised. When the formation of TXA 2was blocked with aspirin or indomethacin, aggregation and release by human platelets were strongest at physiological concentrations of Ca2+. Rabbit platelet responses differed markedly from those of human platelets because close contact of rabbit platelets in a low-Ca2+ medium did not promote TXA2 formation. Rabbit platelet responses were more strongly inhibited by the lack of added Ca2+ in the medium than the responses of human platelets, possibly because rabbit platelets do not contain releasable Ca2+.In all studies of human platelets in media with low concentrations of Ca2+, the additional contribution to platelet responses of TXA2 formed because of close platelet contact should be considered because TXA2 formation is not usually stimulated in this way at physiological concentrations of Ca2+. When TXA2 formation is blocked, aggregation and release responses to all agonists are greatest at physiological concentrations of Ca2+. Thus, the responses of human platelets in media with low concentrations of Ca2+ (citrated platelet-rich plasma or artificial media to which no Ca2+ has been added) are abnormal in at least two ways, and do not correspond to the responses at physiological concentrations of Ca2+.

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SummaryA new, simplified method of degranulating human platelets using the thrombin receptor peptide SFLLRN (20 |iM) is described; released fibrinogen cannot be converted to fibrin, and the platelets are not exposed to a proteolytic enzyme, as they are when thrombin is used for degranulation. The peptide-degranulated platelets regain their disc shape and are recovered as single platelets which have released approximately 90% of the contents of their dense granules. Their procoagulant activity is greater than that of control platelets, but somewhat less than that of thrombin-degranulated platelets. Without added fibrinogen, the peptide-degranulated platelets aggregate slightly in response to 50 μM SFLLRN, and to collagen, arachidonic acid, the thromboxane A2 mimetic U46619, platelet activating factor, ADP, and the divalent cation ionophore A23187; added fibrinogen enhances aggregation caused by these agonists. Extensive aggregation of peptide-degranulated platelets is caused by thrombin in the absence of added fibrinogen; it may be that the alternative thrombin receptor that is not activated by SFLLRN is responsible for the strong response to thrombin. Aggregation responses to most of the agonists are greater than those observed previously (10) with thrombin-degranulated platelets. By this method, platelets are obtained that have been degranulated in a way that is similar to in vivo degranulation. They are useful for studies of platelet responses without the complicating effects of released granule contents, and for investigation of the characteristics and functions of platelets that have come in contract with release-inducing agents in vivo.

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SummaryA method has been developed for preparing suspensions of washed human platelets that have lost as much as 90% of their dense granule and alpha granule contents as a result of stimulation by thrombin (0.9 U/ml for 3 min at 37° C), and recovering the platelets without using a proteolytic erwyme. Glycyl-Lprolyl-Larginyl-L-proline (GPRP) was used to prevent polymerization of released fibrinogen and arginyl-glycyl-aspartyl-serine (RGDS) to block the interaction of released fibrinogen, vWf or fibronectin with the glycoprotein IIb/IIIa complex. The thrombin used to degranulate the platelets was neutralized with D-phenylalanyl-Lprolyl-L-arginine chlororhethyl ketone (FPRCH2CI) and prostaglandin E1 was added to return the platelets towards a disc shape. The degranulated platelets aggregated in response to ADR platelet activating factor, arachidonate and the thromboxane 42 mimetic, U46619 in the presence of added fibrinogen; the platelets changed shape but did not aggregate in response to collagen. Thrombin and the calcium ionophore, A23L87, caused aggregation without added fibrinogen. Synergism between pairs of aggregating agents at low concentrations was observed. Little TXB2 was formed when the platelets were reaggregated by thrombin. RGDS and F(ab’)2 fragments of an antibody to fibrinogen inhibited reaggregation induced by thrombin and A23187 indicating that small amounts of fibrinogen at the platelet surface may support aggregation by strong agonists. Adherence of thrombin-degranulated platelets to a collagen-coated surface was less than for controls, but spreading was more extensive. Electron-microscopic immunogold cytochemistry with anti-human fibrinogen IgG showed numerous gold particles in platelet vacuoles. Thrombin-degranulated platelets can be used to study pathways involved in platelet aggregation without the complicating effects of released granule contents including ADR and to study indirectly the factors released from platelets that contribute to the stability of platelet aggregates.