INFLUENCE OF ASPIRIN AND INDOMETHACIN ON PLATELET CONTRACTILE WAVE

  • 1 January 1976
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 82  (3) , 513-+
Abstract
A short-lived product of prostaglandin (PG) biosynthesis produced on the addition of arachidonic acid to platelet microsomes is involved in physiologic platelet aggregation and mediates the release reaction by producing the platelet contractile wave. An important corollary of this hypothesis is that aspirin and indomethacin, inhibitors of PG synthesis, should block the platelet contractile process produced by agents which can initiate platelet aggregation. This hypothesis was tested. Aspirin and indomethacin were potent inhibitors of the platelet contractile wave stimulated by collagen and epinephrine, but largely failed to inhibit internal transformation induced by thrombin and ADP. The hypothesis that a PG produced endogenously by platelets initiates platelet contraction is confirmed and ADP and thrombin have the ability to stimulate the platelet contractile apparatus by an alternate mechanisn not dependent on PG synthesis is suggested.