Effect of Nicotine on Clot Retraction of Rat Blood Platelets

Clot retraction in platelet-plasma preparations was enhanced by nicotine treatment of rats. Platelets from nicotine-treated rats retracted to a greater degree if incubated in plasma from nicotine treated rats than if incubated in control plasma. Furthermore, platelets from nontreated rats retracted to a greater degree if they were incubated in plasma of nicotine-treated rats, than in plasma of nontreated rats. The results indicate that the effects of nicotine are not directly on platelets. It is concluded that the enhanced clot retraction observed in the blood of nicotine-treated animals was due to a plasma factor and not to changes in the platelets themselves.