PLATELET ACTIVATION BY PLATELET-AGGREGATION FACTOR FROM EISENIA FOELIDE

A platelet activating factor from earthworm, Eisenia foelide (EPAF, 25 .9 mu mol.L(-1)), induced human platelet aggregation and 5-HT (maximal release of 89 % at EPAF 74.1 mu mol.L(-1)) was detected during this p rocess. Neither creatine phosphate/creatine phosphate kinase (CP/CPK) nor aspirin completely inhibited the EPAF-induced platelet aggregation . In the presence of fibrinogen, EPAF (55.6 mu mol L(-1)) induced the aggregation of human platelet which had been thrombin-treated and degr anulated. Results indicated that EPAF was a potent platelet agonist an d the EPAF-induced platelet aggregation was ADP- and TXA(2)-independen t.