Roles of phospholipase C and Ca(2+)-ATPase in calcium responses of single, fibrinogen-bound platelets.

Fura-2-loaded platelets were immobilized on fibrinogen, and cytosolic free calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) was measured by video imaging of the fluorescence signal. In the immobilized, single platelets, ADP and low doses of thrombin evoked repetitive spikes of [Ca2+]i, whereas higher thrombin concentrations gave elevated plateaus in [Ca2+]i. Stimulation of the cells with thrombin after the addition of ADP changed the frequency of spiking, but not the maximal levels of [Ca2+]i reached. In suspensions of platelets, ADP and low doses of thrombin evoked transient elevation of myo-inositol phosphates, suggesting that the initiation of spiking was due to stimulation of phospholipase C. In platelet suspensions, the Ca(2+)-ATPase inhibitor thapsigargin (TG) evoked a gradual rise in [Ca2+]i, which was potentiated by preactivation of the platelets and inhibited by prostaglandin E1 and nitroprusside. In single platelets, TG induced a sudden increase in [Ca2+]i after a long but variable delay, followed by a phase of slow oscillations. The effects of preactivation with ADP were 2-fold: the delay time before the response to TG was shortened and the maximal level of [Ca2+]i reached with TG was higher than the level of the preceding Ca2+ spikes. Apparently, Ca2+ responses induced by the inhibition of Ca(2+)-ATPases are potentiated by prior elevation of [Ca2+]i and reduced by substances that inhibit agonist-evoked increases in [Ca2+]i. The data point to a mechanism of Ca(2+)-induced Ca2+ release and the presence of TG-sensitive and TG-insensitive Ca2+ stores in platelets. Rapid spiking may involve both pools, whereas the latter alone may account for the slow TG-evoked oscillations.