Presence of a Non‐Splenic Platelet Pool in Man

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Abstract
Three asplenic but otherwise healthy men, in whom autologous platelets were labeled with radioactive sodium chromate, received i.v. infusions of epinephrine in a dose of 0.35 .mu.g/kg per min over a period of 20 min. In response to these infusions an increase in concentration of labeled platelets (average 8% over the basal value) was seen in all 3 subjects. In no case was the maximal increase in the venous hematocrit higher than 1%. Identical experiments were carried out on 3 intact male volunteers. As compared to the asplenics, the mean maximal increase in platelet-bound radioactivity was considerably higher (41%). A small but significant epinephrine sensitive non-splenic platelet pool is present in humans.