HUMAN-PLATELET AGGREGATION AND RELEASE REACTION INDUCED BY PLATELET ACTIVATING FACTOR (PAF-ACETHER) - EFFECTS OF ACETYLSALICYLIC-ACID AND EXTERNAL IONIZED CALCIUM

The effects of the cyclo-oxygenase inhibition on PAF-acether-induced human platelet aggregation and secretion are controversial. We studied the above parameters on citrated platelet-rich plasma of 12 normal subjects before and after the in vivo administration of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA). Individual sensitivities to PAF-acether were highly variable. ASA completely inhibited the platelet secretion induced by low concentrations of PAF-acether, but caused only partial inhibition when platelets were exposed to high concentrations of PAF-acether. The concentration of PAF-acether which overcame the cyclo-oxygenase inhibition varied substantially, depending on the individual sensitivity of the platelets to it. The addition of CaCl2 2 mM to the samples did not affect the extent of the platelet secretion, but increased irreversible aggregation in samples taken both before and after the ASA administration. These data suggest that low concentrations of PAF-acether stimulate the human platelet secretion by activating the cyclo-oxygenase pathway, whereas higher concentrations also trigger other mechanism(s) that suffice to induce human platelet secretion and full aggregation.