Effects of a Variety of Endotoxins on Human and Rabbit Platelet Function

Summary

Endotoxin from Salmonella typhosa or enteritidis, Escherichia coli, or Serratia marcescens caused platelet aggregation, release of platelet-bound ¹⁴C-serotonin and development of platelet factor 3 activity when shaken at 37 °C with heparinized platelet-rich plasma (10 units/ml) from rabbits. The relative activity in each test differed for each agent. Endotoxoid only released ¹⁴C-serotonin. With human platelet-rich plasma, Salmonella typhosa, E. coli or Serratia marcescens endotoxin failed to induce aggregation or platelet factor 3 activity but caused slow release of platelet-bound ¹⁴C-serotonin. Earlier studies showed that endotoxemia in man or endotoxoid injection in rabbits was associated with thrombocytopenia without shock or disseminated intravascular coagulation. This effect appears to correlate with release of ¹⁴C-serotonin from platelets in vitro.

^* N. I. H. Trainee in Reproductive Physiology (Grant HD 002 70-05).

^** This work was partially supported by grant HE-12859 from the National Institutes of Health.

^*** Career Investigator of the Health Research Council of the City of New York (1-296).

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