Kinetics of platelet adhesion and thrombus growth.

Epifluorescent microscopy was used to monitor the adhesion of platelets and the growth of platelet aggregates on collagen-coated glass tubes perfused with whole blood. The maximum basal length and width of the aggregate size increased linearly with time, growing symmetrically transverse to the direction of flow and asymmetrically in the plane longitudinal to the direction of flow. Aggregates had elliptical bases, with the major axis parallel to the direction of blood flow. These studies provide an experimental approach to studies of the kinetics of platelet interaction with artificial surfaces and give further support to the concept that blood flow has a major effect on the development of platelet thrombi.