Protective effects of WEB 2086 (PAF antagonist) and ketoprofen (NSAID) on PAF-induced changes in the morphological ultrastructure of blood platelets in calves.

The ultrastructure of bovine platelets was examined by transmission electron microscopy without any pretreatment (control), and after WEB 2086 (a triazolodiazepine) or ketoprofen (NSAID) pretreatment, followed by PAF infusion. The blood platelet count was also investigated. The group of calves that received WEB 2086 pretreatment before platelet-activating factor (PAF) infusion did not show a decreased number of platelets. However, in the other group, with ketoprofen pretreatment before PAF infusion, there was a rapid decrease from 1 to 3 min, while from 5 min the number of platelets recovered to the normal value. Electron microscopy revealed that pretreatment with WEB 2086 followed by PAF infusion did not alter the morphological ultrastructure of bovine platelets, except that the microtubules were briefly modified from 1 until 3 min after PAF challenge. After ketoprofen pretreatment, bovine platelets kept their regular shape, the number of dense bodies was not significantly altered, the number of mitochondria was maintained from 5 min after PAF infusion, giant platelets were not observed and the Golgi apparatus was rarely visible. Thus pretreatment with WEB 2086 and ketoprofen before PAF infusion had a protective activity on the ultrastructure of bovine platelets and, in cattle, pretreatment with WEB 2086 and ketoprofen before PAF challenge prevented the thrombocytopenia induced by PAF.