ULTRASTRUCTURAL STUDIES OF THE GRAY PLATELET SYNDROME

  • 1 January 1979
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 95  (2) , 445-+
Abstract
The gray platelet syndrome (GPS) is a rare inherited disorder in which peripheral blood platelets are relatively large, vacoulated and almost devoid of cytoplasmic granulation. The ultrastructure and cytochemistry of platelets from 2 patients with the GPS were evaluated to determine precisely which organelles are missing from their cells. Gray platelets apparently contain normal numbers of mitochondria, dense bodies, peroxisomes and lysosomes but specifically lack .alpha.-granules. Preliminary studies of megakaryocytes from 1 of the 2 patients suggested that the defect in granule formation may lie at the level of the Golgi zone.