Subcellular composition of platelet density subpopulations prepared using continuous Percoll gradients

Normal human platelets have been separated by density on continuous Percoll gradients and the subcellular composition of platelets of different density has been analysed. The number and concentration of dense granules increased significantly with platelet density, as did the concentrations of the dense granule constituents calcium and serotonin. The amount of serotonin per granule in the low density (LD) platelets was only two-thirds of the corresponding amount in the high density (HD) platelets. Platelets of all densities were able to sequester exogenous serotonin and release it in response to thrombin stimulation with similar efficiencies. The concentrations of the alpha-granule constituents von Willebrand factor and beta-thromboglobulin increased significantly with platelet density but the concentrations of the lysosomal enzyme beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase and total sialic acid did not differ significantly in the density subpopulations. The concentrations of the cytosolic enzymes lactate dehydrogenase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase were slightly higher in the LD population than in the other density subpopulations. The concentration of glycogen showed a marked positive relationship with platelet density and calculations suggested that glycogen was an important determinant of platelet density heterogeneity. The findings of the present study are compatible with recent suggestions that LD platelets may be slightly younger than HD platelets in normal human subjects.