USE OF ASPLENIC RABBITS TO DEMONSTRATE THAT PLATELET AGE AND DENSITY ARE RELATED

  • 1 January 1982
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 60  (1) , 166-171
Abstract
An experimental model using asplenic rabbits injected with radioactive amino acids was developed to examine the density distribution of newly released platelets. Platelets from asplenic rabbits had a larger mean volume and greater protein content than those from eusplenic animals. Radiolabel, indicative of new platelets, was preferentially incorporated into the most dense platelets during the early postinjection period. Platelets of intermediate density also demonstrated augmented early label incorporation compared to the lightest cells. During the late postinjection phase, there was preferential labeling of the least dense platelets. The specific radioactivity of heavy and light platelets rose to approximately equal levels and fell abruptly, but the peak activities occurred at distinctly separate times consistent with the concept of platelet density modification during platelet aging. Although platelet biologic properties are broadly distributed, on the average young platelets have an increased density and become less dense as they circulate.