Platelet Microparticles: A Tool to Predict Infarction Area in Rats

Abstract

Background: Whether there is a quantitative correlation between platelet microparticles (PMPs)/calpain and infarction area is still unclear. Whether present antiplatelet agents can improve myocardial infarction by influencing PMPs need to be revealed. The object of our study was to answer those questions. Methods: Male Wistar rats were used for all studies. All rats were randomly divided into five groups: sham-operated group, myocardial infarction group (blank control group), aspirin intervention group, aspirin combined with clopidogrel intervention group, and aspirin combined with ticagrelor intervention group. Venous blood and hearts were collected at day 7 following MI. ELISA was applied to detect PMPs level. Infarction size was determined by TTC staining method. The comparisons of multiple means were tested with analysis of variance. And the two–two comparisons among the means were done by Student-Newman-Keuls and LSD method. Results: PMPs level and infarction area did not differ between aspirin combined with clopidogrel intervention group and aspirin combined with ticagrelor intervention group. However, significant differences were detected between any two other groups. PMPs were decreased more in dual antiplatelet intervention group. Pearson correlation analysis showed a strong correlation between PMPs and infarction area (r = 0.90) as well as calpain 10 and infarction area (r = 0.84). We created a regression model: y = 4.61 + 0.28*x (y: infarction area, x: PMPs) to assess myocardial infarction area by PMPs level. Conclusions: Antiplatelet agents may decrease infarction areas by modifying PMPs. There was a strong correlation between PMPs and infarction area. Therefore, PMPs could be used as a tool to assess infarction area.