Reduction in the number of thromboxane receptors on human platelets after exposure to GR32191

Exposure of human resuspended platelets in vitro for 30 min to the potent thromboxane A2 (TP)-receptor blocking drug GR32191, followed by its removal by dilution-dissociation, reduced the degree of subsequent binding to 2 nM [3H]-GR32191 by almost 50%. Exposure for longer periods (60 min) led to a further reduction. However, no change in the Kd of the radioligand was observed. 2. This effect of GR32191 could not be explained by persistent binding of drug to platelets since a dilution-dissociation stage, designed to remove all drug, was included prior to measurement of binding. 3. Using an alternative TP-receptor radioligand, [3H]-SQ29,548, to monitor receptor number, a reduction in Bmax was observed after GR32191 pre-treatment; the Kd value of the radioligand remained unchanged. 4. The effect was not a common property of TP-receptor blocking drugs since pre-exposure of platelets in vitro for 30 min to BM13.177 or SQ29,548 did not produce a fall in subsequent Bmax to [3H]-SQ29,548. 5. While the mechanism behind this apparent down-regulation of platelet TP-receptor is unknown, it may explain the long duration of action of GR32191 upon platelets in man which persists in the absence of detectable drug in the plasma.