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Thromb Haemost 1992; 68(06): 687-693
DOI: 10.1055/s-0038-1646345
Original Article
Schattauer GmbH Stuttgart

Significance of Platelet β-Adrenoceptors for Platelet Responses In Vivo and In Vitro

P T Larsson
1   The Department of Pharmacology, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
,
N H Wallén
1   The Department of Pharmacology, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
2   The Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Karolinska Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
,
A Martinsson
1   The Department of Pharmacology, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
,
N Egberg
3   The Department of Clinical Chemistry and Blood Coagulation, Karolinska Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
,
P Hjemdahl
1   The Department of Pharmacology, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
2   The Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Karolinska Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Received 22 October 1991

Accepted after revision 15 July 1992

Publication Date:
04 July 2018 (online)

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Summary

The significance of platelet β-adrenoceptors for platelet responses to adrenergic stimuli in vivo and in vitro was studied in healthy volunteers. Low dose infusion of the β-adrenoceptor agonist isoprenaline decreased platelet aggregability in vivo as measured by ex vivo filtragometry. Infusion of adrenaline, a mixed α- and β-adrenoceptor agonist, increased platelet aggregability in vivo markedly, as measured by ex vivo filtragometry and plasma β-thromboglobulin levels. Adrenaline levels were 3–4 nM in venous plasma during infusion. Both adrenaline and high dose isoprenaline elevated plasma von Willebrand factor antigen levels β-Blockade by propranolol did not alter our measures of platelet aggregability at rest or during adrenaline infusions, but inhibited adrenaline-induced increases in vWf:ag. In a model using filtragometry to assess platelet aggregability in whole blood in vitro, propranolol enhanced the proaggregatory actions of 5 nM, but not of 10 nM adrenaline. The present data suggest that β-adrenoceptor stimulation can inhibit platelet function in vivo but that effects of adrenaline at high physiological concentrations are dominated by an α-adrenoceptor mediated proaggregatory action.

 

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