Acquired secretion defect in platelets after cryopreservation in dimethyl sulfoxide

Abstract
Despite the use of preservatives, platelets are severely damaged during cryopreservation and, following freezing, function poorly in a number of in vitro tests. We report here that cryopreserved platelets show diminished aggregation in response to collagen. This may be a consequence of a secretion defect as evidenced by a 20 to 30 percent loss of dense- and alpha-granule content (p less than 0.05) and an impaired secretion mechanism. Analysis of adenine nucleotides confirmed the defect in dense granule adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and adenosine diphosphate (ADP) content (storage pool), but in addition revealed a 50 percent fall in cytosolic ATP (metabolic pool). In contrast, the adenylate energy charge, (ATP + 1/2 ADP)/(ATP + ADP + adenosine monophosphate), was normal. We concluded that platelet cryopreservation leads to a secretion defect, probably as a result of activation during freezing and thawing procedures.

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