Inhibition of platelet aggregation by synthetic phosphatidylcholines: possible involvement of vesiculation of platelet plasma membranes.

Abstract Synthetic phosphatidylcholines inhibited thrombin-induced aggregation of rabbit platelets. The inhibitory effect of the phosphatidylcholines increased with an increase in the chain-length of the constituent fatty acids up to 12, and then decreased, and C 14:0 PC and C 16:0 PC did not inhibit platelet aggregation. The activity of synthetic phosphatidylcholines as to induction of vesiculation of platelet plasma membranes (Kobayashi, T., Okamoto, H., Yamada, J.-I., Setaka, M. and Kwan, T. (1984) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 778, 210–218) and the inhibitory effect of these phosphatidylcholines on platelet aggregation showed the same dependence on the constituent fatty acids of the phosphatidylcholines. The amounts of phosphatidylcholines required for 50% inhibition of platelet aggregation correspond very well to those required for 15% exfoliation of acetylcholinesterase activity, suggesting that there is a close relationship between platelet aggregation and vesiculation of the platelet plasma membrane. The possible mechanism of inhibition of platelet aggregation by synthetic phosphatidylcholines is discussed.