Blood plasma influences anti-aggregatory potency of prostaglandins: effect of albumin.

The anti-aggregatory effects of prostaglandins (PGs) were compared in platelet-rich plasma (PRP) with that in washed platelets (WP). PGE(1), 13,14-dihydro-PGE(1), 5,6-dihydro-PGE(3) and ethyl ester of PGE(1) had the same potency in both platelet preparations. Iloprost was significantly more potent in WP compared to PRP, while 5,6-trans-PGE(2) and PGE(3) had higher potency in PRP than in WP. Albumin (35 mg/ml) in WP decreased the potency of iloprost but did not change the IC(50) value for PGE(3). In PRP, PGs were 1.5-2.8 times more potent when incubated 3 min as compared to 30 s, while in WP, the incubation time did not affect the IC(50) values for PGs. In WP with albumin, the potency of iloprost was significantly lower when it was incubated 30 s as compared to 3 min. Thus, plasma albumin is responsible for time-dependent effect of PGs and for the lower potency of iloprost but not for the higher potency of PGs in PRP.