CADMIUM-INDUCED PLATELET HYPERSENSITIVITY TO AGGREGATING AGENTS

The responsiveness of rabbit platelets to a small amount (non aggregating concentration) of arachidonic acid or collagen was potentiated by pre-addition of CdCl2 in vitro. Potentiation of platelet responsiveness to the aggregating agent (ADP and/or adrenaline) was also present in human-PRP. Platelet hypersensitivity was measured as a lowering of the threshold concentration of the aggregating agents required to trigger the arachidonateor collagen-induced aggregation (rabbit platelet-rich plasma) and/or to induce the secondary wave in the adrenaline- or ADP-induced aggregation (human platelet-rich plasma). Indomethacin added to human PRP inhibits the cadmium-induced platelet hypersensitivity to ADP. © 1979 The Italian Pharmacological Society.