Storage pool disease: comparative fluorescence microscopical, cytochemical and biochemical studies on amine-storing organelles of human blood platelets.

The platelet content of ATP, ADP, serotonin (5-HT), dopamine, noradrenaline and adrenaline as well as the net uptake of radiolabelled 5-HT and mepacrine were subnormal in six patients with Storage Pool Disease (SPD). Fewer amine-storing organelles were found by fluorescence microscopy with the fluorescent probe mepacrine and by electron microscopy with a cytochemical (uranaffin) reaction specific for 5'-phosphonucleotides. Both methods showed that SPD platelets have atypical organelles with a reduced capacity to store amines, 5'-phosphonucleotides and mepacrine. The changes were most marked in platelets of the two patients who also had oculocutaneous albinism.