Plasmin-induced platelet aggregation and platelet release reaction. Effects on hemostasis

Trypsin-activated pig plasmin and human plasmin activated by streptokinase (SK) caused aggregation of a suspension of washed platelets from human, rabbit, or pig blood. The platelet aggregation was reversible, but it was accompanied by a significant release of adenine nucleotides, serotonin, and platelet fibrinogen. Platelet fibrinogen was eventually digested. The effect of plasmin on platelets was inhibited by soybean trypsin inhibitor, epsilon aminocaproic acid, Persantin, prostaglandin E(1), and phenylbutazone. Short treatment of platelets with plasmin enhanced their sensitivity to ADP; however, this sensitivity was lost during longer incubation with plasmin. This enzyme also made platelets less sensitive to collagen and thrombin. Injecting SK into rabbits (10,000 U/kg body weight) caused a transitory drop of platelet count. These platelets lost part of their serotonin and fibrinogen. The administration of Persantin or of epsilon aminocaproic acid to rabbits before the injection of SK protected platelets from the loss of serotonin. Pretreatment with Persantin also resulted in partial protection of platelet fibrinogen in rabbits injected with SK. Platelets obtained from rabbits that had received both Persantin and SK were much more reactive with collagen than platelets obtained from rabbits injected with SK alone. Rabbits pretreated with Persantin did not show prolongation of the primary bleeding time that occurred after SK injection to control rabbits. It is suggested that plasmin generated after SK injection causes platelet release reaction in vivo. This may contribute to the hemostatic defect occurring during thrombolytic therapy or during systemic activation of fibrinolysis due to the other factors.

Effect of anti-inflammatory drugs on the binding of calcium to cellular membranes in various human and guinea-pig tissues

1. Cellular membranes were obtained by centrifugation of homogenates of various human and guinea-pig tissues. These membranes took up added calcium (Ca) when incubated at 25 degrees C for 10 min in histidine buffer at pH 7.4. The uptake of Ca was increased by the presence of adenosine triphosphate (ATP).2. Evidence is presented that the membrane fragments which took up Ca under these conditions were derived from the endoplasmic reticulum.3. The ATP-dependent uptake of Ca by membranes derived from guinea-pig aortic or gastric smooth muscle or from human umbilical arterial muscle was inhibited by indomethacin in a concentration-dependent manner.4. The ATP-dependent uptake of Ca by membranes derived from heart, brain, skeletal muscle or liver of the guinea-pig was not inhibited by indomethacin.5. Endothelial cells were obtained from the lining of the human umbilical vein. Cellular membranes were prepared from the endothelial cells by homogenization and centrifugation. The endothelial membranes took up added Ca in the presence of added ATP and this uptake was inhibited by indomethacin and also by members of a group of pharmacologically-related drugs.

Evaluation of cryogenine on rat paw thermal oedema and rat isolated uterus

1. Significant inhibition of oedema formation caused by thermal injury was observed for calcium carbaspirin, phenylbutazone, hydrocortisone, cryogenine and indomethacin when given daily beginning 2 days prior to thermal exposure and afterwards. Several anti-inflammatory drugs, including cryogenine, failed to reduce thermal oedema significantly when given as single doses 1 h prior to the thermal injury.2. Kinetic experiments on the rat isolated uterus demonstrated that cryogenine, chlorpromazine, and flufenamic acid were, in part, competitive inhibitors of synthetic bradykinin, while indomethacin and tetrabenazine showed only non-competitive antagonism.