Factors responsible for ADP-induced release reaction of human platelets

Extensive aggregation of human platelets can be induced by ADP without secondaryaggregation or release of granule contents. This occurs with washed platelets in Tyrode solution containing 0.35% albumin, human fibrinogen, and apyrase, and in platelet-rich, heparin- or hirudin-plasma. Conditions that caused release during ADP-inducedaggregation were-citrate as the anticoagulant in platelet-rich plasma; addition of citrate (11-15 mM) to a suspension of washed platelets, or to hirudin-plasma or heparin-plasma; suspension of platelets in a medium containing magnesium but no calcium;and the presence of trace amounts of thrombin or aggregated gamma globulin in the platelet suspensions. Acetylsalicylic acid, phenylbutazone, or sulfinpyrazone inhibited secondary aggregation and release in all these circumstances. Heparin or hirudin inhibited ADP-INDUCED SECONDARY AGGREGATION AND RELEASE PROMOTED BY TRACES OF THROMBIN. Although fibrinogen is required for ADP-induced primary aggregation, it does not support secondary aggregation and release, provided that it has no clot-promoting activity. The main agent responsible for ADP-induced secondary aggregation and release in human, citrated, platelet-rich plasma appears to be sodium citrate. Suspending washed human platelets in a medium without calcium mimics the effect of citrate.