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Updated: Jul 10, 2026

Preparation of Washed Human Platelets for Quantitative Metabolic Flux Studies
Published on: January 10, 2025
[Structural changes in platelets in alloxan diabetes as parameters of their activation in the vascular bed and
S A Shestakova1, R P Stepanova, M L Stepanian
1St. Petersburg Medical University.
Abstract:
The present study shows that a stable level of blood platelet number persists in diabetic rats (following 15 and 60 days after experimental alloxan injection) Unusual platelet megaforms are seen accumulating (up to 36%), having no size analogs in control animals. A quantitative electron-microscopic analysis demonstrated that the enlargements of diabetic platelets was accompanied by their rounding in shape and by a more frequent (by 2.0-2.6 times) generation of surface pseudopodia. The share of platelets increased in two independent fractions, with considerable deflexion over the normal range limit variations in the number, size and general volume of their alpha-granules (cutting down) or dense (increase) bodies. At the same time a common decrease in these indexes for different types of grains in platelets of various dimensions occurred. The integral picture of the platelet granular apparatus (image of granular apparatus), that demonstrates quantitative proportions between the number and size indexes of different grain types, is found distorted in diabetic rats.
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