Evidence for Two Separate Effects of Adenosine Diphosphate on Human Platelets

Summary

Further studies are reported on the mechanism by which platelets from patients with arterial disease develop abnormal electrophoretic sensitivity to adenosine diphosphate (ADP). Plasma from such patients can only induce abnormal platelet sensitivity to ADP if ADP is itself present. There are two separate effects of ADP on human platelets, one which allows platelets to interact with abnormal plasma, and another which is reflected by changes in platelet electrophoretic mobility ; the former is inhibited by cyanide, and the latter is not.

The effects of lecithin on normal platelets are similar to those of abnormal plasma, but if lecithin is incubated with plasma before addition to platelets its effect is lost.

• References

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