[Structural and functional changes in thrombocytes in experimental atherosclerosis].

Electron paramagnetic resonance with the use of stearic acid derivatives (5- and 16-doxylstearate) as spin probes was applied to studies of the structural organization of rabbit platelets in experimental atherosclerosis. Substantial differences were established in the molecular packing of phospholipid plasma membranes, associated with a higher molar content of cholesterol in the cells. An increase in the aggregation properties of platelets was also observed, manifesting in a shorter time of the ADP-induced aggregation of platelets isolated from plasma. The data obtained confirm the primary part of membranotropic cholesterol activity in atherosclerosis, attesting to the validity of the "membraneous" hypothesis of the atherogenesis.