The electrophoretic mobility heterogeneity of human platelet subpopulations of different buoyant densities.

Human platelets were separated into density subpopulations by using a step-wise gradient of Percoll in Tris-NaCl buffer. The absolute value of the electrophoretic mobility (EPM) of the density subpopulations was found to be a linear function of the density of the platelets, with EPM becoming less negative with increasing platelet density. Platelet volume distributions, mode volume, and sialic acid and protein contents were found to increase with platelet density, while no differences were found in GPII, GPIII, and GPIV contents among the subpopulations. An estimate of charge density was made from the ratio between the PAS-staining material (membrane GP's) and platelet surface area. The ratio was found to decrease as platelet density increased, consistent with the less negative EPM values observed for the higher density platelets. This lower surface charge of heavier platelets, which would lower charge repulsion between cells, agrees with the premise that heavier platelets are more active.