Some properties of mouse platelets.

Mouse platelets were aggregated by arachidonate, thrombin, collagen and ADP. In general they were, like rat platelets, more aggregative in heparinized PRP than in citrated (3.8%) PRP. Mouse platelets underwent the release reaction when aggregated by arachidonate, collagen and thrombin, but not when stimulated by ADP. The aggregation of the platelets to arachidonate was inhibited by cyclooxygenase inhibitors and by prostacyclin. Studies with tritiated arachidonate showed that mouse platelets possess the lipoxygenase and cyclooxygenase pathways found in other mammalian platelets and produce thromboxane and 12-HETE. The mouse provides a convenient model for the study of many conditions known to affect platelet aggregation. The similarity of mouse platelets to the platelets of other mammals together with the ability to study large numbers of animals at low cost, should encourage further use of mouse platelets.