Investigations on the effects of heavy water (D2O) on the functional activity of human platelets.

Heavy water (D2O) is able to activate or to inhibit biological systems and thus influences metabolism and functions of tissues and organs. On the basis of results obtained in preservation experiments performed on various organs, the effects of D2O on the functions of human platelets (retraction, spreading, aggregation induced by adrenaline, ADP and collagen) have been investigated. The effects of D2O, involving changes of membrane receptor conformation, binding strength of substances to their specific receptors, pH-values or enzyme activities, resulted in a significant decrease of ADP- and collagen-induced aggregation, while adrenaline-induced aggregation was significantly increased at the same D2O concentration. Retraction in the presence of D2O was significantly inhibited in a dose-related manner, while spreading was diminished, but not fully inhibited even by highest concentrations of D2O (95%).