Pressure-Induced Metabolic Activation of Platelets Demonstrated In Vitro by Determination of Malondialdehyde Formation

: Platelet rich plasma (PRP) exposed in vitro to 200 mm Hg above atmospheric pressure showed a significant increase in malondialdehyde (MDA) formation compared to PRP at atmospheric pressure. This difference is also evident when platelets are incubated with arachidonic acid. The increase of MDA demonstrates that the increased beta-thromboglobulin and platelet factor 4 in plasma and the shape changes of platelets after pressure stimulation in vitro that were described in a previous paper result from the release reaction. Pressure-induced effects in vivo are discussed.