The control of megakaryocyte ploidy and platelet production: biology and pathology

Following experimental platelet destruction in animals, large platelets, which are more hemostatically active, are produced before any change in bone marrow megakaryocyte DNA content. When platelet production is stimulated by administration of i.v. vincristine in rats, megakaryocyte ploidy is increased, but mean platelet volume is unchanged. When platelet production and destruction are both stimulated by chronic hypoxia or administration of anti-platelet serum, mean platelet volume and megakaryocyte DNA content are both increased. Since platelet volume is determined primarily at thrombopoiesis, these results imply that mean platelet volume and megakaryocyte DNA content are under separate hormonal control. Therefore, it has been postulated that changes in mean platelet volume occur following changes in platelet production rate, whereas changes in megakaryocyte ploidy are associated with an increased rate of platelet production. In myocardial infarction, platelets have increased mean volume and reduced bleeding time more than in controls. In addition, men with myocardial infarction have increased megakaryocyte size and increased DNA content when compared to controls. These changes are similar to those observed in rabbits following cholesterol feeding. If megakaryocyte polyploidy and mean platelet volume are under separate hormonal control, this suggests that in myocardial infarction, both hormones are active--one stimulating an increased platelet size, the other stimulating the increased megakaryocyte DNA content. In contrast, patients with lymphoma exhibiting a secondary thrombocytosis have no change in mean platelet volume. However, these subjects also have larger bone marrow megakaryocytes when compared to controls. The relation between megakaryocyte size and ploidy implies that the DNA content of these cells is increased in lymphoma.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)