Experimental diabetes and platelet aggregation in the rat.

Alloxan-induced diabetes and platelet aggregation were studied in male Sprague-Dawley rats. Platelets from diabetic rats receiving insulin (one unit protamine-zinc insulin/100 g BW) were consistently more responsive to aggregating agents (ADP, thrombin) than platelets from control rats (with or without insulin administration). Also, serotonin release from platelets was consistently greater in diabetic compared to control rats following thrombin-stimulated platelet aggregation.