The effect of 6-oxo-prostaglandin E1 on human platelet aggregation in whole blood in-vitro

Abstract

Abstract The effect of PGI2, 6-oxo-PGE1 and PGE1 on ADP-induced human platelet aggregation has been assessed in whole blood and in blood centrifuged to prepare plateletrich plasma (PRP). PG12 was the most potent antiaggregatory agent in both media. The concentration of PGI2 required to produce 50% inhibition of platelet aggregation was approximately 0.3 ng ml−1 in each case. In contrast both E series prostaglandins exhibited significantly greater (400-700%) anti-aggregatory activity when tested in whole blood than when tested in PRP. Since whole blood presumably represents a truer reflection of platelet reactivity in-vivo, we believe that the potency of 6-oxo-PGE1 (and PGE1) as inhibitors of platelet aggregation has been underestimated in previous experiments using PRP. In human whole blood 6-oxo-PGE1 has approximately 40% the anti-aggregatory activity of PGI2. The reasons for the increased anti-aggregatory potency of E series prostaglandins in whole blood is not known. We suggest that 6-oxo-PGE1 and PGE1 (but not PGI2) may prevent the release of pro-aggregatory ADP from red blood cells thereby enhancing their ability to inhibit platelet aggregation.