A Method for Automatic Recording of the Osmotic Fragility of Blood Platelets

Summary

A method for automatically recording the osmotic fragility of blood platelets, using a Fragiligraph, was developed. Platelet specimens taken from 20 healthy males and 9 females were examined. The mean rate of platelet change and the extent of increase in light transmission (LT) of washed platelets suspended in veronal, Tris, or phosphate buffered saline and dialyzed against water and 0.1% sodium chloride solutions, were analyzed. The recorded curves showed a slow phase lasting 2–74 sec, followed by a phase representing a rapid rate of platelet change in which gradually swelling of the platelets occurred concomitantly with an increase in the LT. This was followed by a third phase of plateau formation. The mean rate of platelet swelling was temperature-dependent, having twice the value at 37° C as at 15° C; the extent (% increase in LT) did not vary with temperature.

• References

• 1 Baserga A, Ballerini G. S. La resistance osmotique plaquettaire dans differentes conditions hematologiques. Schweiz, med. Wschr 87: 1218 1957;
• 2 Fantl P. Osmotic stability of blood platelets. J. Physiol. (Lond.) 198: 1 1968;
• 3 Rogner G. Die Bestimmung der osmotischen Thrombozytenresistenz mit dem Elektrophoto-meter. Acta haemat. (Basel) 29: 346 1963;
• 4 Fantl P. The effect of fluoride on blood platelets. Biochim. biophys. Acta (Amst.) 130: 87 1966;
• 5 Gram G. N, Lous P. Sur la résistance des thrombocytes. Nord. Med 1: 162 1939;
• 6 Gurevitch J, Nelken D. Osmotic fragility of human blood platelets. Blood 11: 924 1956;
• 7 Gurevitch J, Nelken D, Danon D. Osmotic fragility of human blood platelets: phase contrast and electron microscopic studies. Blood 13: 773 1958;
• 8 Nelken D, Gilboa N, Gurevitch J. Studies on the osmotic fragility of human blood platelets. III. Normal and pathologic values. J. Lab. clin. Med 56: 120 1960;
• 9 Nelken D, Gilboa-Garber N, Gurevitch J. Studies on osmotic fragility of human blood platelets. IV. Reversible changes in platelet morphology. Acta haemat. (Basel) 26: 75 1961;
• 10 Danon D, Gilboa-Garber N, Nelken D. Reversible and irreversible changes in normal human thrombocyte membranes by slow and rapid swelling. J. Cell. Physiol, (formerly J. Cell. Comp. Physiol.) 57: 21 1961;
• 11 Ulutin O. N, Riddle J. M, Rebuck J. W. Platelet osmotic resistance test using the electron microscope. New Istanbul Contr. clin. Sci 6: 142 1963;
• 12 Ulutin O. N, Karaca M. A study on the pathogenesis of thrombopathia using the platelet osmotic resistance test. Brit. J. Haemat 5: 302 1959;
• 13 de Nicola P, Alitieri S, Mazzetti G. M. Richerce sui rapporti tra funzione thromboplastinica e resistenza delle piastrine. Boll. Soc. ital. hamatol 3: 302 1955;
• 14 Muhrer M. E, Bogart B, Hogan A. G. Estimation of platelet fragility. Amer. J. Physiol 141: 449 1944;
• 15 Danon D. A rapid micro method for recording red cell osmotic fragility by continuous decrease of salt concentration. J. clin. Path 16: 337 1963;
• 16 Danon D. The fragiligraph and its application. Brit. J. haemat 13 suppl 61 1967;
• 17 Brecher G. M, Gronkite E. P. The reproducibility and constancy of the platelet count. Amer. J. clin. Path 23: 15 1953;
• 18 Dreyfuss F, Zahavi J. Unpublished observations.