AN OPTOELECTRONIC REGISTRATION METHOD AS APPLIED TO PAF-MEDIATED HYDROGEN-PEROXIDE INDUCED ARTERIAL THROMBOSIS

In the present paper, a standardized method for the induction and regi stration of platelet thrombi in arterioles (500 mu m diameter) of smal l laboratory animals is described in full detail. Using an optoelectro nic analogue computer device, different discriminating parameters char acteristic for the thrombotic phenomenon are presented. As the topical application of exogenous PAF-acether induces the generation of endoge nous PAF-acether according to previous investigations (Bourgain et al. (1985) Prostaglandins 30, 185) it was deemed interesting to investiga te the effect of hydrogen peroxide using the described methodology. It was found that the latter substance not only primes the effect of PAF -acether-induced thrombosis, but also can trigger by itself PAF-acethe r modulated arterial thrombus formation. Experimental evidence is addu ced that these thrombotic phenomena can be most efficiently down regul ated by specific PAF-acether antagonists.