The interrelationship between thromboxane biosynthesis, aggregation and 5-hydroxytryptamine secretion in human platelets in vitro.

Platelet aggregation, secretion of 5-hydroxy tryptamine and production of thromboxane B2 were monitored simultaneously in human platelet suspensions in the absence and presence of cyclooxygenase or thromboxane synthetase inhibitors. Aggregation, secretion and thromboxane B2 formation in response to either sodium arachidonate or epinephrine were blocked by aspirin or by 1-N-butyl inidazole suggesting that thromboxane biosynthesis was an essential requirement for platelet activation by these agents. In contrast, thrombin and collagen could apparently induce aggregation and secretion via two pathways: at low doses involving thromboxane production, but at higher doses by a direct mechanism independent of thromboxane biosynthesis. In the case of ADP, inhibition of thromboxane production blocked secretion but had little effect on aggregation, indicating that secretion was probably dependent on thromboxane biosynthesis which probably occurred as a result of aggregation. Thus it appears that although the processes of thromboxane production, release of dense granule constituents and aggregation may often be intimately linked, each process can occur independently of the other, depending upon the stimulus used.