The effect of vitamin E on platelet kinetics of stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSP).

The platelet survival time was shortened in stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSP) at 10 weeks of age on feeding the regular diet but it was normalized on administering the vitamin E-supplemented diet. Platelet survival time was normal in stroke-resistant spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSR) at 10 weeks of age on feeding the regular diet but it was shortened when supplying the vitamin E-free diet. The maximal uptake of 75Se-selenomethionine by platelets was increased in SHRSP at 10 weeks of age on feeding the regular diet. It was further increased in SHRSP on feeding the vitamin E-free diet. On the other hand, the increased maximal uptake of 75Se-selenomethionine by platelets was normalized in SHRSP on feeding both the vitamin E-supplemented diet and the vitamin E-supplemented diet after administering the vitamin E-free diet. Therefore, we concluded that the deficiency of vitamin E brought about the shortening of platelet survival time and enhanced platelet production.