Enhancement of the release reaction not accompanied with enhanced phosphatidylinositol turnover in the reserpinized rabbit blood platelets.

Thrombin-induced platelet release reaction examined with secretion of calcium and N-acetylglucosaminidase was significantly enhanced in the platelets from reserpine-treated rabbits as compared with the control. On the other hand, 32P-incorporation into phosphatidic acid was suppressed in the reserpinized platelets in activated state. Thrombin induced phosphatidylinositol (PI)-breakdown, which was examined by decreases in radioactivity and content of PI, and an increase in diacylglycerol, was not enhanced in the reserpinized platelets as compared with the control. The phosphorylation of the specific protein coupled to thrombin-induced platelet PI-breakdown was not stimulated in the reserpinized platelets as compared with the control. In contrast to PI, PC-degradation by thrombin was significantly stimulated in the reserpinized platelets. Possible existence of pathway(s) other than that associated with an enhancement of PI-turnover is conceivable as a mechanism involved in platelet release reaction.