Human platelet reactivity with intact segments of rabbit aorta and selected regions of rabbit, rat and human aorta.

A technique measuring platelet reactivity with vessel wall subendothelium has been modified to examine platelet reactivity with vessel pieces in place of intact segments of aorta of a specific diameter. This modification of Baumgartner's original technique (1) allows measurement of blood platelet reactivity with vessel pieces, 5 X 10 mm in size, mounted on perfusion chambers with "twist bands." Adhesion and aggregation of human platelets to deendothelialized surfaces of intact segments of rabbit aorta and pieces of rabbit, rat and human aorta, were equivalent. This modification will expand the use of Baumgartner's technique to investigations of platelet vessel wall interactions using blood platelets and vessels from numerous experimental animal models and humans. It will also facilitate examination of possible differences in thrombogenocity of selected areas of vessels such as those exhibiting stages of atherosclerotic plaque formation.