1981 Volume 12 Issue 2 Pages 199-202
Human platelet arachidonic acid (AA) metabolism and functions have been studied in fresh and stored (4°C and 22°C) concentrates. Thrombin-induced thiobarbituric acid (TBA) reactive substance produced by the platelet (Thr-TBARS) significantly decreased after 1 day storage at both temperatures. Platelet cyclo-oxygenase (PCO) and lipoxygenase (PLO) activities as estimated by the TBA reaction were well preserved for 1 day of the storage. However, PCO and PLO activities significantly decreased in the concentrates stored for 2 days at both temperatures and at 22°C, respectively. Thr-TBARS was better preserved at 22°C than at 4°C, but no such difference in the effect of storage temperatures was observed on PCO and PLO activities. Thrombin-induced platelet aggregation and ATP release as monitored by the use of lumi-aggregometer decreased during the storage at 4°C for up to 2 days. These data suggested that AA liberation from phospholipids was more vulnerable to storage than the metabolism of liberated AA and that 22°C was better than 4°C for the storage of concentrates. Furthermore, Thr-TBARS seems to be one of the most sensitive indicators in vitro to test function and viability of stored platelets.
