Enzymatic removal of ADP from plasma: unaltered platelet adhesion but reduced aggregation on subendothelium and collagen fibrils.

Subendothelium of rabbit aorta and fibrillar collagen were exposed to citrated human or rabbit blood which was circulated through a perfusion chamber under flow conditions similar to those found in arteries. The resulting platelet adhesion and subsequent formation of platelet microthrombi on the exposed surfaces were measured in 0.8 mum thich sections by a morphometric technique using light microscopy. Removal of plasma ADP by the substrate-enzyme combination CP-CPK (creatine phosphate-creatine phosphokinase; 3 mM and 90 U/ml blood) did not affect the initial attachment and spreading of platelets on subendothelium, whereas platelet thrombus formation was strongly inhibited. On free collagen fibrils CP-CPK was much less inhibitory on platelet thrombus formation but platelet adhesion again was not affected. It is concluded that platelet aggregation induced by thrombogenic surfaces in the presence of arterial blood flow is at least partially governed by ADP released from adhering platelets. Platelet adhesion to the examined surfaces, however, does not seem to be mediated by plasma ADP.