[Morphofunctional characteristics of the bipolar forms of thrombocytes]

The formation and circulation of bipolar platelet forms in the vasculature have been first studied. All the transitional stages of platelet metamorphosis from disk-shaped to bipolar forms have been traced. The basic functions in bipolar platelets (adhesion and aggregation) were inhibited. Such cells were shown to appear in various pathologic conditions (pheochromocytoma, intravascular coagulation syndrome). Prazosin, alpha-blocker, was capable of inducing reverse metamorphosis accompanied by the recovery of platelet functional properties.