Ultrastructure of resting and activated storage pool deficient platelets from animals with the Chédiak-Higashi syndrome.

The ultrastructural of platelets from Chédiak-Higashi (CH) and normal cattle, mink, and cats at rest was studied. Platelets from CH animals had a virtual absence of platelet dense granules. Alpha granules, amorphous membrane-surrounded structures, mitochondria, and microtubules of CH bovine platelets were similar in number and appearance to those in normal bovine platelets. Giant CH granules, present in other cells and considered diagnostic of the syndrome, could not be identified in platelets from CH animals. The open canalicular system and dense tubule system were not readily identifiable in resting bovine platelets. The ultrastructure of normal and CH cattle platelets was evaluated at various stages of ADP-induced aggregation. After platelets changed shape during the first phase of aggregation, the ultrastructural appearance of CH platelets was similar to that of normal platelets. The CH platelets composing the aggregates during irreversible aggregation did not appear as activated as did normal platelets, even though the aggregation tracings were similar. Normal and CH cattle platelets treated with thrombin appeared morphologically similar and were characterized by centrifugal movement of granules.