Functional activity of platelets in the early periods of angiopathy formation in rats with alloxane diabetes

Abstract

Functional and metabolic activity of platelets and anti-aggregation activity of aortic wall, as well as the specific features in the structure of renal glomeruli were studied in rats at the early stages of alloxan diabetes development. A decrease of platelet disaggregation, an increase in the levels of malonic dialdehyde (MDA) in nonactivated platelets, and an expressed increase of MDA production by thrombin-activated platelets were observed in animals with 15-day diabetes mellitus. A depression of the anti-aggregation activity of the aorta was observed in the same period. In the renal glomeruli, the ultrastructure of the epithelium was changed (destruction of its fenestrae, vacuolization, and detachment from the basal membrane), and proliferation of the mesangial elements of a glomerulus observed. In later periods of diabetes mellitus (60 days) the maximal increase of platelet aggregation activity and a continuing decrease of their disaggregation were observed, which were not paralleled by higher production of MDA in nonactivated and activated platelets. Decrease of anti-aggregation activity of the aorta and changes in the renal glomeruli progressed by day 60 of the disease: degranulated platelets and aggregations thereof were found in the lumens of glomerular capillaries.