STUDIES ON PLASMA FACTOR INVOLVED IN 5-HYDROXYTRYPTAMINE RELEASE FROM BLOOD PLATELETS BY BACTERIAL ENDOTOXIN

I. PRESENCE OF 5-HYDROXYTRYPTAMINE RELEASING FACTOR IN RABBIT PLASMA AND ITS INTERACTION WITH HEPARIN AND ENDOTOXIN

Abstract

It has been well established that the 5-hydroxytryptamine (5HT) release from blood platelets by bacterial endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide; LPS) requires the presence of calcium ion and plasma protein in the medium, and that heparin inhibits this release (1-5). The chemical natune of the plasma factor has not yet, however, been elucidated, hence it is the objective of this study.