Effect of selective proteolysis on the accumulation of 5-hydroxytryptamine by intact rat blood platelets.

1 The effect of perturbation of intact blood platelets with proteolytic enzymes was studied with respect to 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) transport, adenine transport and intracellular Na(+) and K(+) levels.2 Leucine aminopeptidase and thrombin reduced 5-HT transport, released 5-HT from pre-labelled platelets and disturbed the gradient to monovalent cations. Leucine amino-peptidase, but not thrombin, inhibited adenine transport.3 alpha-Chymotrypsin and carboxypeptidases A and B were without effect on the parameters studied.4 Trypsin selectively reduced 5-HT transport. It did not release 5-HT from blood platelets or inhibit adenine transport.5 The action of proteolytic enzymes is discussed in terms of proteins localized in the external membrane that may function in part as membrane carriers.