AGE-RELATED INCREASED C-14 ARACHIDONIC-ACID UPTAKE BY PLATELETS IN NORMAL SUBJECTS

Arachidonic acid uptake activity (pmol/10(8) platelets min) measured i n platelets obtained from normal subjects was significantly higher in over-forty year old (3.53 +/- 0.38) than in under-forty year old subje cts (2.33 +/- 0.12). No significant correlations were found between th e arachidonic acid uptake activity and fasting plasma glucose, total c holesterol, HDL-cholesterol or triglyceride levels. The arachidonic ac id uptake activity was significantly reduced by the presence of indome thacin in platelets obtained from both under and over-forty year old s ubjects, and by the presence of nordihydroguaiaretic acid in platelets obtained from over-forty year old subjects. In conclusion, these data show that arachidonate uptake activity by platelets increased with ag e. This increase was abolished when platelets were incubated in the pr esence of inhibitors of the arachidonic acid metabolism.