Sex difference in the effect of aspirin on intracellular Ca2+ mobilization and thromboxane A2 production in rat platelets.

The intracellular Ca2+ mobilization in thrombin-stimulated platelets was greater in male rats than in female rats. Thromboxane (TX) B2 production in male platelets was greater than that in female platelets. Aspirin suppressed Ca2+ mobilization in rat platelets, but the inhibitory effect of aspirin was more efficient in males than that in females. Aspirin inhibited TXB2 production, and this inhibitory effect of aspirin was stronger in male platelets than in female platelets. Castration decreased Ca2+ mobilization and TXB2 production and weakened the effect of aspirin on them. It is suggested that the sex difference in the antiplatelet effect of aspirin results from the difference in the inhibition of Ca2+ mobilization via the inhibition of TXA2 production in thrombin-stimulated rat platelets.