Studies on gel-filtered human platelets: isolation and characterization in a medium containing no added Ca2+, Mg2+, or K+.

We have adapted the gel filtration technique for separation of human platelets from the plasma constituents to permit use of an eluant containing no added Ca2+, Mg2+, and K+, and hence allow direct determination of the intracellular concentrations of these ions in the isolated platelets. The eluant employed is modified Ca2+-free Tyrode's buffer which contains Sr2+ (0.2 mM) as a substitute for Mg2+ and lacks added K+. The functional metabolic, and morphological properties of these isolated platelets have been determined ael-filtered platelets (GFP) to low concentrations of ADP and adrenaline was qualitatively similar to that of platelet-rich plasma (PRP). However, a slower response was observed for the GFP. This rate difference was partially or completely reversed by addition of apyrase to the medium. Analysis of the total adenine nucleotide content and the pattern of 14C incorporation into the metabolic adenine nucleotide pool indicated that isolation in this medium caused to significant change in the ATP and ADP contents or in the adenylate energy change in comparison with the PRP. However, a significant increase in the extent of hypoxanthine production from ATP was noted in GFP isolated in media lacking Mg2+. Inclusion of Mg2+ in the elution media prevented this increased hypoxanthine production. The intracellular concentrations of Ca2+, Mg2+, and K+ of the GFP as determined by atomic absorption analysis were in good agreement with the values obtained for platelets separated from plasma by high-speed centrifugation. Platelet Ca2+ and Mg2+ levels remained stable despite the lack of significant extracellular levels of these ions. However platelet K+ fell to about 30 per cent of its initial value after incubation of 90 minutes at 23 degrees C. and a coincident increase was observed in extracellular K+ concentration. This procedure for platelet isolation may be of particular value for studies on the role of Ca2+, Mg2+, and K+ in platelet physiology and metabolic processes.