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When citrated plasma is recalcified, it forms a viscoelastic gel--a clot. The relationship between platelet contractility and clot rigidity was studied by using a rheological technique which simultaneously measured both the dynamic rigidity modulus and the contractile force during gel formation with platelet rich plasma (PRP). Protein network formation in a clot was accompanied by a contractile force throughout the clotting process. PRP demonstrated a maximum elastic modulus of 6,000 dynes/cm2 and a maximum contractile force/area of 1,500 dynes/cm2. The values of these parameters for a platelet-free clot (PFP) were 700 dynes/cm2 and less than 100 dynes/cm2 respectively. Sonicated control PRP and PRP from a Glanzmann thrombasthenia patient both clotted in a manner similar to PFP. Metabolic inhibitors, 2-deoxy-D-glucose and KCN (5 mM each), retarded the clotting curves of PRP. Cytochalasin B and E suppressed both structural rigidity and force generation in a concentration-dependent manner similar to their inhibitory effect on actin polymerization in platelets. Colchicine (2.5 mM) or vinblastine (0.11 mM) did not affect these clotting curves. Thrombin-activated, fixed platelets did not generate any force, nor did they significantly increase clot rigidity. Streptokinase induced a concurrent decrease of both rigidity and force in PRP clots. The elastic modulus of a PFP clot could be increased to 2,500 dynes/cm2 by externally straining the network with an axial force/area of 1,500 dynes/cm2. Our results indicate that clot structure formation in PRP is strongly coupled to the contractile force generated by the platelet microfilament system and that this force modulates clot rigidity.
Jen et al. (Fri,) studied this question.