Effect of calcium on the morphology of human platelets spread on glass substrates

The morphology of human platelets spread on glass substrates is sensitive to the presence of calcium. In the absence of Ca2+, cells spread from buffered salt solution develop radially oriented filopodia and subsequently a broad hyalomere surrounding the central region of the cell from which granules are frequently exocytosed. In the presence of Ca2+ cell rounding and apparent withdrawal from the substrate occurs. Scanning (SEM) and transmission (TEM) electron microscopy of cells rounded in the presence of Ca2+ show fibrous elements connecting the cells to the substratum as well as adherent to the substrate in the vicinity of the rounded cells. Interference reflection microscope (IRM) images of these cells are heterogeneous: some contain small discrete darker regions suggesting the presence of focal specializations at the ventral cell surface. In contrast IRM images of cells spread in the absence of Ca2+ indicate predominantly broad areas of unspecialized contact with the substrate in agreement with TEM observations. These results suggest that Ca2+ may enhance platelet-substrate adhesion by initially promoting the formation of focal specializations which become more pronounced as cell rounding occurs possibly due to Ca2+ activation of an actomyosin-based contractile mechanism.