Inhibitory action of guanosine 3',5'-monophosphate on thrombin-induced calcium mobilization in human platelets.

During thrombin-induced serotonin release from platelets, phosphorylation of myosin light chain was increased. This protein phosphorylation, which is initiated by Ca2+ mobilization, and serotonin release were inhibited progressively by increasing concentrations of sodium nitroprusside, a potent stimulator of platelet guanylate cyclase, or 8-bromo-cyclic GMP. Thrombin-induced increase in cytoplasmic free Ca2+, which was also inhibited by these drugs in a dose-dependent manner. These results provide evidence that an increase in platelet cyclic GMP inhibits thrombin-induced Ca2+ mobilization and prevents platelet activation.