Species specificity of the platelet responses to 1-0-alkyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine.

A semi-synthetic 1-0-alkyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (alkylacetyl-GPC) was shown to be highly species selective in its capacity to cause platelet aggregation and serotonin release. No effects were elicited on the rat or mouse platelets while platelets from human, dog, cat, rabbit, guinea pig and horse were highly sensitive to alkylacetyl-GPC. The hypotensive activity in the rat was not associated with thrombocytopenia. Preliminary evidence suggested that the inability of platelets of the rat and mouse to respond to alkylacetyl-GPC was not due to a difference in plasma inactivation of the substance but due to a difference in platelet responsiveness per se. The data also support the concept that the potent hypotensive property of this substance readily observed in the rat, is a result of an effect which is platelet-independent.