Reduced aggregability of platelets in rat anaphylaxis.

In the PRP of anaphylactic rats, ADP, collagen and thrombin induced platelet aggregation was considerably reduced. Reduced aggregability could be transferred to normal platelets by suspending them in the PPP of anaphylactic animals and the impaired aggregation of platelets from animals undergoing anaphylaxis could be restored by exchanging their plasma for that of normal controls. Ellagic acid, a known activator of factor XII, produced similar alterations as obtained in anaphylactic shcok. It is suggested that the inhibition of platelet aggregation is due to the anaphylactic activation of factor XII and this mechanism may be of importance in rat anaphylaxis.