Subscribe to RSS
DOI: 10.1055/s-0038-1650153
Plasma and Platelet Lipid Composition and Platelet Aggregation by Arachidonic Acid in Women on the Pill
Publication History
Received 14 November 1980
Accepted 22 January 1981
Publication Date:
26 July 2018 (online)
![](https://www.thieme-connect.de/media/10.1055-s-00035024/198102/lookinside/thumbnails/10-1055-s-0038-1650153-1.jpg)
Summary
Sensitivity to induction of platelet aggregation by arachidonic acid (AA) and changes in plasma and platelet polyunsaturated fatty acid distribution were studied in seven women before and after six months of oral contraceptive (OC) treatment with a combination of d-norgestrel (0.25 mg) and ethinylestradiol (0.05 mg). Special interest was focused on AA because certain metabolites of this fatty acid induce platelets to aggregate and are considered to play a crucial role in thromboembolic processes.
In plasma, AA concentrations increased slightly, but significantly, in both the free fatty acid (FFA) and phospholipid fractions; in platelets AA increased in the phospholipid and neutral lipid fractions. The threshold aggregating concentration (TAC) of AA was significantly reduced in platelets of women after six months of OC treatment (0.65 ± 0.08 versus 0.30 ±0.04 mM). This suggests that changes in platelet fatty acid composition may be associated with in vitro changes in platelet sensitivity to AA. Such changes may contribute to the thrombotic tendency associated with OC treatment.
-
References
- 1 Vessey MP, Mann JI. Female sex hormones and thrombosis: Epidemiological aspects. Br Med Bull 1978; 34: 157-162
- 2 Poller L. Oral contraceptives, blood clotting and thrombosis. Br Med Bull 1978; 34: 151-156
- 3 Editor. Platelets, lipids and myocardial infarction. Lancet 1977; 1: 80-81
- 4 Moncada S, Vane JR. Unstable metabolites of arachidonic acid and their role in haemostasis and thrombosis. Br Med Bull 1978; 34: 129-135
- 5 Born GVR, Cross HJ. The aggregation of blood platelets. J Physiol 1963; 168: 178-195
- 6 Silver MJ, Smith JB, Ingerman C, Kocsis JJ. Arachidonic acid induced human platelet aggregation and prostaglandin formation. Prostaglandins 1973; 4: 863-875
- 7 Di Minno G, Silver MJ, de Gaetano G. Prostaglandins as inhibitors of human platelet aggregation. Br J Haematol 1979; 43: 637-647
- 8 Folch-Pi J, Lees M, Sloane Stanley GH. A simple method for the isolation and purification of total lipids from animal tissues. J Biol Chem 1957; 226: 497-509
- 9 Schotz MC, Garfinkel AS, Huebotter RJ, Stewart JE. A rapid assay for lipoprotein lipase. J Lipid Res 1970; 11: 68-69
- 10 Carroll KK. Separation of lipid classes by chromatography on florisil. J Lipid Res 1961; 2: 135-141
- 11 Safrit HF, Weiss HJ, Phillips GB. The phospholipid and fatty acid composition of platelets in patients with primary defects of platelet function. Lipids 1972; 7: 60-67
- 12 Lowry OH, Rosebrough NJ, Far AL, Randall RJ. Protein measurement with the folin phenol reagent. J Biol Chem 1951; 193: 265-275
- 13 Van Handel E, Zilversmit DB, Bowman K. Micromethod for the direct determination of serum triglycerides. J Lab Clin Med 1957; 50: 152-154
- 14 Svanborg A, Svennerholm L. Plasma total lipid, cholesterol, triglycerides, phospholipids and free fatty acids in a healthy Scandinavian population. Acta Med Scand 1961; 169: 43-49
- 15 Dole VP. A relation between nonesterfied fatty acids in plasma and the metabolism of glucose. J Clin Invest 1956; 35: 150-154
- 16 Bowyer DE, Leat WM, Howard AN, Gresham GA. The determination of the fatty acid composition of serum lipids separated by thin-layer chromatography and a comparison with column chromatography. Biochim Biophys Acta 1963; 70: 423-431
- 17 Glass RL. Alcoholysis, saponification and the preparation of fatty acid methyl esters. Lipids 1971; 6: 919-925
- 18 Thomson JM. Ed. Blood Coagulation and Haemostasis: A Practical Guide . 02. nd. ed. Livingston; Churchill: 1980
- 19 Bierenbaum ML, Fleischman AI, Stier A, Watson P, Somol H, Naso AM, Binder M. Increased platelet aggregation and decreased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol in women on oral contraceptives. Am J Obstetr Gynecol 1979; 134: 638-641
- 20 Jackson RL, Gotto Jr AM. Phospholipids in biology and medicine. N Engl J Med 1974; 290: 24-29
- 21 Remuzzi G, Mecca G, Marchesi D, Livio M, de Gaetano G, Donati MB, Silver MJ. Platelet hyperaggregability and the nephrotic syndrome. Thromb Res 1979; 16: 345-354