Increased platelet aggregation and fatty acid oxidation in diabetic rats

The effects of diabetes on fatty acid oxidation in platelets was determined in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. In platelets isolated from diabetes, the oxygen consumption which reflects mainly the degree of fatty acid oxidation and ADP- and thrombin-induced aggregation were increased as compared to non-diabetic rat platelets. Carnitine palmitoyltransferase I (CPT I), the rate-limiting enzyme for fatty acid oxidation, in platelets obtained from diabetes showed a higher Vmax for palmitoyl-CoA and an increased I50 (concentration giving 50% inhibition of CPT I activity) for malonyl-CoA inhibition. These changes observed in fatty acid oxidation in platelets derived from diabetes returned to the control levels after insulin therapy. When platelets were stimulated with thrombin, platelet CPT I activity increased over time in both diabetic and non-diabetic rats. From these findings, fatty acid oxidation in platelets, as in the liver, is likely to be regulated by insulin and both increased CPT I activity and decreased sensitivity to malonyl-CoA inhibition are attributable to enhanced platelet fatty acid oxidation in diabetic rats.