The increase of the electrophoretic mobility of platelets after laparotomy

A fully automatic instrument for the determination of electrophoretic mobility of colloidal particles was applied to human platelets. A significant increase in platelet electrophoretic mobility was observed one day after a laparotomy. This suggests that a selective consumption of platelets with smaller surface negative charge may occur during postoperative hemostatic plug formation or under surgical stress. In addition, the difference in electrophoretic mobility observed between males and females suggests an effect of estrogen on platelets.

Decrease in Platelet Adenine Nucleotides Content In Patients With Dic, Thrombosis and After Operation

Conditions which induce platelet release reaction in vivo are not yet obvious. To detect the conditions, platelet ATP and ADP content (firefly luciferase method) and plasma beta-thromboglobulin level were measured in 51 healthy young volunteers, 10 patients with typical DIC syndrome during time course of cancer, 27 patients in acute stage of thrombosis in cerebral, coronary and femoral arteries, 29 patients in recovery stage of thrombosis and 69 patients one day before, and one day, one week and one month after a laparotomy. Platelet count and volume were counted by a Coulter Counter and Channelyzer. Platelet aggregation induced by ADP, adrenaline and collagen was also measured. In the healthy, platelet mode volume was 4.21 ± 0.08 μ3 (mean ± SE). beta-TG was 29.9 ± 5.9 ng/ml, and ATP and ADP contents were 5.81 ± 0.17 and 3.19 ± 0.09 μmoles/1011 platelets and ATP/ADP was 1.82 ± 0.05. In DIC, acute stage of thrombosis and one week after laparotomy, platelet volume became to smaller and ADP content decreased significantly. Changes in beta-TG level were rather variable. Platelet aggregation increased in thrombosis and postoperative state, while it decreased in DIC. In DIC, decrease in ATP and ADP content was marked as compared with other groups. It suggests that ADP content In platelets may reflect release reaction in vivo. Following the release reaction, platelet aggregability may increase. However, platelets with large decrease in adenine nucleotides content may have hypofunction.