Relationship between contents of neuraminic acid and ATP and adhesiveness of the platelet.

Abstract

The relationships among platelet adhesiveness, platelet N-acetylneuraminic acid (NANA) content, platelet ATP content and lactic acid production rate were studied in human and rabbit. The NANA content of non-adhesive platelets was lower than that of platelets adhered on a glass bead surface. The treatment with neuramidase in vitro resulted in a marked decrease of NANA content and adhesiveness index in rabbit platelets. The long-term Warfarin administration reduced both NANA content and adhesiveness index in man and rabbit. NANA contents of platelets obtained from patients with ITP, von Willebrand's disease, SLE, uremia or liver cirrhosis, and patients under long-term Warfarin therapy were markedly reduced, accompanying with a decrease in adhesiveness index. A significant correlation was demonstrated between NANA content and adhesiveness index in platelets. ATP content and lactic acid production rate of non-adhesive platelets were markedly reduced. These results suggested that surface negative charge due to NANA plays a significant role in the mechanism of adhesion of the platelet on a glass bead surface and a metabolic energy supply is required for the following platelet aggregation.