HYPOXIA ALTERS THE ENERGY-METABOLISM AND AGGREGATION OF WASHED HUMAN PLATELETS

Washed human platelets were incubated under hypoxic and normoxic condi tions to investigate the influence of oxygen deprivation on energy met abolism and aggregation. The maximum aggregation rate, oxygen consumpt ion, lactate production, and adenine nucleotide content were measured. Hypoxic incubation decreased the oxygen burst and maximum aggregation induced by thrombin, and accelerated anaerobic glycolysis. ATP and AD P levels were preserved, but the hypoxanthine level increased in the i ncubation medium and the platelet AMP level and adenylate energy charg e decreased compared with normoxic incubation. Thus, anaerobic glycoly sis failed to compensate for impaired oxidative phosphorylation during hypoxic incubation, suggesting that oxidative energy is essential for full platelet function.