Formation by phospholipase A2 of prostaglandins and thromboxane A2-like activity in the platelets of normal and essential fatty acid deficient rats. Comparison with effect on human and rabbit platelets.

When rat platelets are incubated with phospholipase A2, thromboxane A2-like activity and prostaglandins are formed. The amounts are approximately similar, whether aggregation is induced after the incubation or not. No aggregation is observed when the platelets are incubated with phospholipase A2. In the platelets of essential fatty acid deficient rats, only small amounts of thromboxane A2-like acitivity and prostaglandins are formed. No formation of these substances occurs when human and rabbit platelets are incubated with phospholipase A2. The results indicate that formation of thromboxane A2-like activity enhances aggregation in rat platelets, but that aggregation is not induced.