Platelet population profiles: significance of species variation and drug-induced changes.

Platelet counts are routinely assessed from whole blood samples and recent technical advances enable the total platelet counts to be complemented by additional information which fully profiles the platelet population. In this report the platelet count, mode and mean platelet volumes and platelet profile histograms are presented for eight mammalian species. Species and strain variation in platelet profiles and the degree of volume heterogeneity are presented, and a platelet profile is presented for the marmoset which is previously unreported. The significance of these parameters and their potential importance to the toxicologist are discussed in the light of an observation of a drug-induced alteration in a platelet population profile.