The thrombocytolytic activity of bacterial peptidoglycans

The peptidoglycan of group A Streptococcus prepared by hot formamide or TCA extraction has an expressive ability to lyse rabbit blood platelets in vitro. Initial changes in the ultrastructure of platelets can be observed after 10 minutes incubation of rabbit platelets with 0.1 mug of Streptococcus peptidoglycan per ml. The submicroscopic alterations are characterized by changes of the shape and damage of the limiting membrane of the platelets. Larger amounts of peptidoglycan (10 mug/ml and more) cause total destruction of platelets; only remainders of the limiting membrane and free granulomers can be seen. Peptidoglycans of Streptococcus pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus exhibit a comparable effect on rabbit platelets. There are substantial differences in the sensitivity of blood platelets of different animal species to the streptococcal peptidoglycan. Rat platelets exhibit a similar thrombocytolytic effect after the Streptococcus peptidoglycan treatment as rabbit ones; however, the development of comparable changes in their submicroscopic structure needs a dose of peptidoglycan 10(2)-10(3) times higher. Platelets of guinea-pig, dog, cat, calf and human appear to be quite resistant under analogous conditions to as such a high dose of Streptococcus peptidoglycan as 500 mug/ml.