Summary: Methods have been developed for the preparation of suspensions of washed platelets from humans. Heparin is used in the washing fluids to prevent: thrombin generation and apyrase is used to prevent adenine nucleotide accumulation. Platelets suspended in Eagle's tissue culture medium containing albumin were more responsive to ADP than platelets in Tyrode's‐albumin solution. Addition of fibrinogen is required for maximum sensitivity to ADP‐induced aggregation. These platelets can be stored for 4 hr or more at 37°C in the presence of apyrase and maintain their ability to aggregate upon the addition of low concentrations of ADP. Without apyrase the platelets gradually become insensitive to ADP upon storage at 37°C; this is presumably caused by the accumulation of ADP in the suspending fluid because sensitivity can be partially restored by the addition of apyrase and further incubation.

No abstract

Platelet aggregates, stabilized by fibrin, rapidly form hemostatic plugs when blood vessels are severed or arterial thrombi at sites of vessel injury, such as ruptured atherosclerotic plaques, or regions where blood flow is disturbed, such as at stenoses. These thrombi cause the thromboembolic complications of atherosclerosis: heart attacks, strokes, and peripheral vascular disease. Platelet adhesion to subendothelial components such as collagen activates signalling pathways that lead to thromboxane A2 formation and secretion of platelet granule contents, including ADP. Both these substances cause platelet aggregation, a process in which the integrin, glycoprotein IIb/IIIa, becomes a receptor for fibrinogen, which forms bridges between adjacent platelets. On the surface of stimulated platelets, coagulation is accelerated and thrombin is generated; it is a potent inducer of platelet aggregation and secretion and also causes fibrin to form around the aggregates, stabilizing them. There are receptors on the platelet surface for thrombin, thromboxane A2, collagen, ADP, platelet-activating factor, fibrinogen, von Willebrand factor, and other ligands. Agents that inhibit platelet aggregation and the signalling pathways that are activated by the various aggregating agents are under intensive investigation in many laboratories.

A method is described for the preparation of suspensions of washed rabbit platelets which will aggregate upon the addition of low concentrations of ADP that are effective in citrated plasma. This method involves collecting blood into ACD, low pH, removal of calcium, and maintenance of magnesium during the isolation procedure. A protein (albumin) and glucose are included in the washing and suspending solutions. Rabbit platelets prepared in this way retained fibrinogen on their surface. On comparison with rabbit platelets prepared from blood taken into EDTA, the only differences observed were the much greater sensitivity to ADP and a higher calcium content ; platelet morphology, nucleotide levels, and conversions of 14C-ATP and 14C-ADP at the platelet membrane were similar.