Comparative pharmacology of endothelium-derived relaxing factor, nitric oxide and prostacyclin in platelets.

1 The pharmacological effects of endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF), nitric oxide (NO) and prostacyclin on human and rabbit platelets were examined. 2 EDRF is released from porcine aortic endothelial cells, cultured on microcarriers and treated with indomethacin, in sufficient quantities to inhibit platelet aggregation induced by 9,11-dideoxy-9 alpha, 11 alpha-methano epoxy-prostaglandin F2 alpha (U46619) and collagen. 3 The anti-aggregating activity of EDRF was potentiated by M&B 22948, a selective inhibitor of cyclic GMP phosphodiesterase, and by superoxide dismutase (SOD) and was inhibited by haemoglobin and Fe2+. 4 Both NO and prostacyclin inhibited platelet aggregation. 5 The anti-aggregatory activity of NO, but not that of prostacyclin, was potentiated by M&B 22948 and by SOD and was inhibited by haemoglobin and Fe2+. Thus NO is a potent inhibitor of platelet aggregation whose activity on platelets mimics that of EDRF. 6 It is likely that the inhibitory effect of NO on platelets represents the action of endogenous EDRF and therefore this substance, together with prostacyclin, is a regulator of platelet-vessel wall interactions.