Abstract
We examined the platelet-induced contractions of aortic strips from normal rabbits and atherosclerotic rabbits.
In cholesterol-fed rabbits whose aortae revealed only slight atherosclerotic changes, the contraction induced by platelet was almost same as that in normal rabbits.
On the other hand, in the severely atherosclerotic rabbits whose thoracic aortae had been scratched with a balloon catheter and then fed a high cholesterol diet, the platelet-induced vascular contraction was depressed in comparison with normal rabbits. There was no difference between the contraction of normal aortic strips by normal platelet and that by platelet from atherosclerotic rabbits.
It therefore appears that as the atherosclerotic changes progresses, the vascular contraction induced by platelet decreases and becomes less concerned in the cause of the damage of organ blood supply.
