Influence of proteoglycans (PG) and glycosaminoglycans (GAG) on ADP-, collagen- and thrombin-induced platelet aggregation

PGs and GAGs have been isolated from fresh bovine aortas according to the method of Hascall and chemically characterized. These PGs and GAGs had only little effects on ADP- and collagen-induced platelet aggregation, but had very potent inhibitory action on thrombin-induced platelet aggregation and prolonged thrombin-clotting-time. Of the standard GAGs investigated hyaluronic acid, chondroitin-4-sulfate and chondroitin-6-sulfate had only little inhibitory action on thrombin-induced platelet aggregation, whereas heparin was very potent in this respect. The unsaturated disaccharides originating after degradation of GAGs with chondroitinases had no effect on platelet aggregation. No differences between PGs and GAGs in inhibiting thrombin-induced platelet aggregation could be detected.