Prostaglandins: specific inhibition of platelet adhesion to collagen and relationship with cAMP level

The effect of 3 prostaglandins (PG's) (I2, D2 and E1) on the adhesion of platelets to purified type III collagen has been investigated. A quantitative method for a specific evaluation of the adhesion has been applied and has revealed an inhibition of adhesion by low concentrations (10(-10)M) of PGs added before collagen; the effect varied as a function of the dose of PGs (maximum at 10(-6)M) which also induced an increase in the level of platelet cAMP. The inhibition of adhesion and the elevation of platelet cAMP followed the same time course and were either of short duration (rapid decrease in the induced effects after 15 and 45 seconds in the case of PGE1) or longer lasting (maximum effect maintained for 5 minutes in the case of PGI2 and D2). These effects were potentiated by a phosphodiesterase inhibitor such as theophylline (10(-3)M). The addition of PGs after collagen resulted in a reduction of the enhancement of cAMP, associated with a decrease in the inhibition of adhesion. Moreover, the addition of exogenous cAMP (dibutyryl N6-02' cAMP) induced a comparable inhibition. A correlation between the adhesion of platelets to collagen and the level of either endogenous or exogenous cAMP has been established. The PGs also inhibited the platelet release reaction from the alpha granules (beta TG) and the dense bodies. (5-HT and ADP). A greater inhibition of release than of adhesion was observed for the same doses of PGs added.