The effect of shear rate on platelet interaction with subendothelium exposed to citrated human blood

Biomechanics of the arterial wall under simulated flow conditions

A perfusion apparatus is employed to reproduce quantifiable pulsatile hemodynamics within freshly excised canine carotid arteries. From measurements of pulsatile intraluminal and transmural pressure and the dynamic radial motion of the vessel wall, calculations are made of the vascular incremental modulus of elasticity and hoop, axial, and radial wall stresses. The results of this investigation suggest that an increase in transmural pressure from 120/80 to 240/120 mmHg produces a marked elevation in incremental modulus and arterial wall stress. These parameters are reduced when transmural pressure is lowered while maintaining intraluminal pressure at physiologic values.

Effects of dipyridamole and low-dose aspirin therapy on platelet adhesion to vascular subendothelium

The effect on platelet function of low-dose aspirin (ASA) and dipyridamole alone or in combination was evaluated after repeated dosing in 5 healthy volunteers. The subjects were treated according to a randomized, single-blind, crossover design with 150 mg of dipyridamole, 25 mg of ASA, the 2 drugs together or placebo twice a day for 3 days. Platelet adhesin was evaluated using an experimental model of adhesion to rat aorta subendothelium under controlled hemodynamic conditions in the presence of red blood cells. Dipyridamole significantly reduced platelet adhesion both alone and in combination with ASA. ASA by itself did not significantly modify platelet adhesion, but completely blocked serum thromboxane production and platelet aggregation by arachidonic acid. Thus, low-dose ASA and dipyridamole may have a complementary action, modifying at the same time 2 platelet functions, adhesion and aggregation, both relevant in the pathogenesis of thrombosis.

The kinetics of platelet aggregation induced by fluid-shearing stress

The work herein examines in vitro the kinetics of platelet aggregation in response to the fluid-shearing stress imparted by a rotational viscometer. Aggregation is expressed through changes in particle size histograms and total particle count. Platelet aggregation commenced above 2000 sec-1 shear rate and was stable above 5000 sec-1. Activation by shear required less than 10 sec at all shear rates. At shear rates above 5000 sec-1, the particle count fell by one-half within 10 sec. By this point aggregates of 1000 platelets or more had appeared. Diluting the platelet suspensions suppressed shear-induced aggregation but not aggregation to ADP, supporting the hypothesis that shear-induced platelet aggregation proceeds through chemical release.

Platelet adhesion determination in whole blood using a simple stagnation flow method

A simple stagnation flow method for the determination of platelet adhesivity has been developed. The sensitivity of the method to its main operational parameters was tested, resulting in recommended standard flow conditions. The method was shown to be dependent on the surface properties of the test slide, on which platelets are deposited, thus proving its suitability to elucidate variations in the surface interaction of the platelets. Normal values were established for males and females.

Red blood cells: their dual role in thrombus formation

Red blood cells may have a physical and chemical effect on the interaction between platelets and blood vessel surfaces. Under flow conditions in which primarily physical effects prevail, platelet adhesion increases fivefold as hematocrit values increase from 10 to 40 percent but undergoes no further increase from 40 to 70 percent, implying a saturation of the transport-enhancing capabilities of red cells. For flow conditions in which platelet-surface reactivity is more dominant, platelet adhesion and thrombus formation increase monotonically as hematocrit values increase from 10 to 70 percent. Thus red cells may have a significant influence on hemostasis and thrombosis; the nature of the effect is apparently related to the flow conditions.