Summary
A variety of anionic, cationic, and non-ionic detergent compounds has been shown to
increase the sensitivity of the electrophoretic response of human platelets to adenosine
diphosphate. The effect of such compounds on normal platelets is very similar to that
of plasma from patients with arterial disease, and it is suggested that there may
be an abnormality in the surface-active properties of the plasma from such patients.
One detergent, cetyl pyridinium chloride, was found not to induce any change in platelet
electrophoretic behaviour, but to protect platelets from other detergents. It was
also shown to be a powerful inhibitor of platelet aggregation.