Effect of middle-intensity exercise on carnitine and beta-hydroxybutyrate plasmatic concentration in men and women.

The purpose of this study is to describe the dynamics of carnitine, its esters and beta-hydroxybutyrate, during a prolonged moderate-intensity physical exercise, as the literature data (Angelini 1986, Carlin 1986, Lennon 1984) up to date reported were not uniform. In our study twenty-two untrained subjects (11 males, 11 females) performed a test exercise on a motor-driven treadmill for 90 min at 50-60% of VO2 max. Blood samples were obtained at rest, at 20, 40, 60 and 90 min during the exercise and after 30 min of recovery. Men show an increase over rest values in short chain acyl carnitine after 90 min of exercise higher than women (M 157%, F 80%), while women have a more elevated relative increase in beta-hydroxybutyrate (M 201%, F 233%); Total carnitine in both sexes is not significantly modified.

Emission of microvesicles and erythrocytic spherocytation.

We have examined mathematically the "cause-effect" relationship between the phenomenon of emission of microvesicles and that of erythrocytic sphericitation, especially when the age of the cell is the main factor involved.

Effect of nucleus accumbens destruction in rat.

The paper presents the effects of nucleus accumbens destruction in rats. There are certain behavioral correlates (e.g., avoidance learning and dominance) which are influenced by the destruction of the nucleus accumbens, while other specific correlates are not significantly affected (namely, open field movements and competition for food). The results are discussed.

Influence of the pure synthetic PAF (platelet aggregating factor) on clot retraction and platelet aggregation.

Pure synthetic platelet aggregating factor (PAF) (1-O-Hexadecyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphorylcholine) induces a dose-dependent platelet aggregation in platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and in gel-filtered platelets. Irreversible platelet aggregation was observed at final concentrations of PAF higher than 2 X 10-(7) mol/l, while reversible or two-wave aggregation was obtained with lower final concentrations. The second wave was inhibited by acetylsalicylic acid, indomethacin, dipyridamole, EDTA, EGTA, theophylline, caffeine, PGE1 and verapamil. PAF does not induce reptilase clot retraction (RCR); however, it does not inhibit RCR induced by ADP or thrombin. Since all substances known to activate platelets also induce RCR, the lack of this activity by PAF would support the existence of a third pathway in platelets.

What's provoking different aggregation between arterial and venous platelets in the rat?

The present study was designed to clarify the reason why rat platelets obtained from arterial blood show a less marked aggregation than those obtained from venous blood, and to investigate the contribution of the vessel wall to this phenomenon. Incubation of arterial or venous platelet-rich plasma (PRP) with papaverine, a phosphodiesterase blocker, resulted in a more marked inhibition of the aggregation parameters for arterial than for venous PRP, indicating that a cAMP-dependent mechanism is involved. Incubation of PRP in vitro with adenosine deaminase did not significantly modify aggregation. Rats treated in vivo with different doses of acetylsalicylic acid or of tranylcypromine, two cyclo-oxygenase inhibitors, abolished the aggregation differences between arterial and venous PRP. It is suggested that this difference in platelet behavior may be due to a mechanism dependent on a PGI2-like, probably cAMP-related activity in which the heart and/or the lungs may play an important role.

Platelet aggregation following electrical stimulation.

It was demonstrated that the previous in vitro electrical stimulation of human and rat platelet-rich plasma does not modify the subsequent response of platelets to the aggregating activity of ADP, thrombin, thrombofax or adrenaline. This is interesting in view of the fact that the electrical stimulation can induce clot retraction.

Electrical stimulation induces clot retraction after previous in vitro platelet aggregation.

The spontaneous clot retraction of platelet-rich plasma is inhibited by previous in vitro ADP-induced platelet aggregation. The electrical stimulation of the clot always restores a maximal clot retraction, even after a prolonged previous in vitro platelet aggregation.

Factor VIII and human platelet aggregation. III. Further studies on aggregation of humna platelets by neuraminidase-treated human factor VIII.

When highly purified human factor VIII is submitted to agarose gel chromatography in the presence of 0.5 M CaCl2, the procoagulant activity (low molecular weight factor VIII, LMW-F VIII) is separated from the void volume protein (Vo-VIII). Upon incubation of human factor VIII with purfied neuraminidase, a very stable platelet aggregating activity develops in the "Vo-VIII' fraction, not in the "LMS-FVIII' part. Evidence is provided that the generated aggregating activity is a property of the 'carrier protein' for LMW-F VIII. Desialylated factor VIII retains its antigenic reactivity, its procoagulant or ristocetin cofactor properties and the capacity of its subunits to dissociate and recombine. Neuraminidase-treated human factor VIII, in contrast to intact bovine factor VIII or intact human factor VIII in the presence of restocetin, does not induce aggregation of EDTA-platelet rich plasma, of congenitally afibrinogenaemic platelet rich plasma, nor of washed platelets.

Factor VIII and human platelet aggregation. I. Evience that the platelet aggregating activity of bovine factor VIII is a property of its 'carrier protein' subunit.

Bovine factor VIII is a potent inducer of aggregation of human platelets. Upon gel filtration of five-thousand-fold purified material in 0.5 M CaCl2, bovine factor VIII is separated into high and low molecular weight components; the former contains both a 'carrier protein' and platelet aggregating activity, the latter the procoagulant activity (low molecular weight factor VII, LMW-FVIII). Upon removal of Ca2+ ions, LMW-F VIII recombines with the 'carrier protein'. LMW-F VIII modifies aggregation by 'carrier protein', but not aggregation by undissociated bovine factor VII, adenosine-5'-diphosphate or adrenaline. This finding indicates that the platelet aggregating activity in indeed a property of the 'carrier protein'.

Factor VIII and human platelet aggregation. II. Characteristics of aggregation of human platelets by bovine factor VIII.

Bovine factor VIII aggregates human platelets either in a strong single wave at high concentration (10 mug/ml platelet suspension) or in two waves at low concentration (0.2-I mug/ml). The strong single wave of aggregation is not associated with release of [14C]serotonin or beta-glucuronidase; the high concentration does not induce retraction of reptilase-clotted platelet-rich plasma. Wtih the low concentration, relase of [14C]serotonin is observed just prior to the onset of the second wave of aggregation; release of beta-glucuronidase does not occur at any moment. The low concentration of bovine factor VIII induces moderate retraction of reptilase-clotted platelet-clotted platelet-rich plasma, which is inhibited by acetylsalicylic acid, indomethacin and apyrase, indicating that it is a consequence of release of platelet adenosine-5'-diphosphate. It has previously been suggested tht carbohydrate groups are involved in the human platelet-bovine factor VIII interaction, since galactose oxidase and periodate oxidation abolish the platelet aggregating activity of bovine factor VIII. The present study shows that these oxidizing substances also induce a degradation of bovine factor VIII, so that the exact role of carbohydrate groups in the aggregation process remains to be established.

Factor VIII and human platelet aggregation. IV. Effect of proteolytic enzymes on platelet aggregation by factor VIII.

During digestion of highly purified bovine factor VIII or neuraminidase-treated human factor VIII by plasmin the procoagulant activity is destroyed more rapidly than the aggregating activity. At an intermediate stage, fragments are transiently formed, which inhibit platelet aggregation by the respective undigested materials, but without corssed inhibition. During proteolysis by plasmin, human factor VIII retains antigenic and restocetin cofactor properties. Contrary to previous observations obtained with less purified preparations, plasmin digest of human or bovine factor VIII do not inhibit ADP-induced platelet aggregation. Thrombin and reptilase do not modify the aggragating activities of bovine and neuraminidase-treated human factor VIII.

Ionophore a 23187: some effects on platelet aggregation and clot retraction.

The ionophore for divalent cations, A 23187, induces plate aggregation and clot retraction. Acetylsalicyclic acid has a potentiating effect on the aggregation induced by A 23187 in platelet-rich plasma, while it inhibits the aggregation of washed platelets. Acetylation of plasma proteins could be the reason of the increased platelet aggregation induced by A 23187 in the presence of acetylsalicyclic acid. Platelet aggregation by A 23187 is probably activated by the passage of Ca2+ through the platelet membrane(s); the aggation, clot retraction by A 23187 requires increased availability in the intracellular space of both Ca2+ and Mg2+.

Reptilase clot retraction induced by electrical stimulation.

Retraction of platelet rich plasma clotted by reptilase is induced by electrical stimulation. Optimal retraction is obtained by stimuli, applied for more than 4 min, with the following characteristics: intensity = 150 volts, duration = 50 msec each, frequency = 10/sec. Electrically induced reptilase clot retraction is shown to be inhibited by EDTA, EGTA, methyl-xanthines, PGE1, acetylsalicylic acid, indomethacin, but not by apyrase or by phosphoenolpyruvate-pyruvate kinase and MgCl2. The results indicate that electrical stimulation induces retraction of PRP clotted by reptilase by triggering off an increased availability of Ca2+ in the intracellular space.