Newborn Platelet Dysfunction: a Storage Pool and Release Defect^[*]

Summary

Per cent aggregation, release and content of adenine nucleotides, and specific radioactivity were evaluated in citrated platelet-rich plasma (PRP) prepared from paired samples of maternal and cord blood. Platelets of newborn infants aggregated normally in response to high dose ADP (20 μM), strong collagen suspensions, and thrombin; however, when compared with PRP from the mothers or from normal adults, per cent aggregation in response to lower concentrations of ADP (2 μM), weak collagen, and part particularly epinephrine was markedly reduced. Nucleotide release after stimulation of the newborns’ PRP with the latter two inducers was also impaired. ATP and ADP content of the newborns’ platelets was also significantly less than that of their mothers or of normal adults, but specific activity was normal. The data suggest that the impairment of ADP release in the platelets of newborn infants is due to decreased sensitivity to external stimuli. Since metabolic ATP is necessary for the platelet release reaction, it is postulated that the platelet dysfunction results from a lack of metabolic ATP.

^* Presented in part at the 44th Annual Meeting of the Society for Pediatric Research, Washington, D. C, May, 1974.

^* The opinions or assertions contained herein are the private views of the authors and are not to be construed as official or as reflecting the views of the Department of the Army or the Department of Defense.

• References

• 1 Corby D. G, Schulman I. 1971; The effects of antenatal drug administration on aggregation of platelets of newborn infants. Journal of Pediatrics 79: 307.
• 2 Hamberg M, Svensson J, Samuelsson B. 1974; Prostaglandin Endoperoxides. A new concept concerning the mode of action and release of prostaglandins. Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, USA 71: 3824.
• 3 Hilgartner M. W. 1968; Transient functional thrombasthenia in the newborn. (Abstract). Society of Pediatric Research 120.
• 4 Holmsen H, Holmsen I, Bernhardsen A. 1966; Microdetermination of adenosine diphosphate and adenosine triphosphate in plasma with the firefly luciferase system. Analytical Biochemistry 17: 456.
• 5 Holmsen H, Weiss H. J. 1970; Hereditary defect in the platelet release reaction caused by a deficiency in the storage pool of adenine nucleotides. British Journal of Haematology 19: 643.
• 6 Holmsen H, Setkowsky C. A, Day H. J. 1974; Effects of antimycin and 2-deoxyglucose on adenine nucleotides in human platelets. Biochemical Journal 144: 385.
• 7 Hrodek O. 1969; L’agregation des plaquettes chez le nouveau-ne. Nouv. Rev. Franc. Hemat 9: 569.
• 8 Malmsten C, Hamberg M, Svensson J, Samuelsson B. 1975; Physiological role of an endoperoxide in human platelets: Hemostatic defect due to platelet cyclo-oxygenase deficiency. Proceedings of the National Academy of Science 72: 1446.
• 9 Mills D. C. B, Robb I. A, Roberts G. C. K. 1968; The release of nucleotides, 5-hydroxytryptamine and enzymes from human platelets during aggregation. Journal of Physiology (London) 195: 715.
• 10 Mull M. M, Hathaway W. E. 1970; Altered platelet function in newborns. Pediatric Research 4: 229.
• 11 Smith J. B, Ingerman C, Kocsis J. J. et al. 1974; Formation of an intermediate in prostaglandin biosynthesis and its association with the platelet release reaction. Journal of Clinical Investigation 53: 1468.
• 12 Warner H. R, Hobbs M. D. 1968; Nucleotide accumulations in Escherichia coli infected with some bacteriophage T⁴ amber mutants. Virology 36: 527.
• 13 Weiss H. J. 1972; Abnormalities in platelet function due to defects in the release reaction. Annals of the New York Academy of Science 201: 161.
• 14 Willis A. L, Vane F. M, Kuhn D. C. et al. 1974; An endoperoxide aggregator (LASS), formed in platelets in response to thrombotic stimuli: purification, identification and unique biological significance. Prostaglandins 8: 453.
• 15 Zuck T. F, Bergin J. J, Raymond J. M, Dwyre W. R, Corby D. G. 1971; Platelet adhesiveness in symptomatic women taking oral contraceptives. Thrombosis et Diathesis Haemorrhagica 26: 426.