Permeabilization of platelets: an investigation of biochemical, ultrastructural and functional aspects

The biochemical, ultrastructural and functional aspects of digitonin-permeabilized platelets were investigated. Human platelets were permeabilized by exposure to the steroid glycoside digitonin. A 60 microM concentration of this permeabilizer produced a very substantial release of cytosolic enzymes from the platelets. Release from subcellular granules was relatively low and did not inhibit the response of platelets to a series of agonists. Although digitonin-permeabilized platelets required higher threshold concentrations of the usual stimulants, both primary and secondary aggregation as well as the release of nucleotides and enzymes from their respective granules remained intact. Transmission electron micrographs revealed discontinuities in the plasma membrane of digitonin-treated platelets, but scanning electron microscopy showed no difference between control and permeabilized platelets. No substantial loss of structural or membrane proteins could be detected by one- and two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. The pore size produced by digitonin treatment was sufficient to allow entry of 125I-labeled IgG into the platelet cytosolic space.