Involvement of platelet-derived 5-hydroxytryptamine in thromboxane A2-induced aggregation in cat platelets

The present study was undertaken to examine the involvement of platelet-derived serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine; 5-HT) in thromboxane A2 (TXA2)-induced platelet aggregation. Pharmacological experiments with 5-HT2 and TXA2 inhibitors were conducted on platelet aggregation in platelet-rich plasma from cats. Exogenously added 5-HT, U-46619 (a stable TXA2 analogue) and collagen caused platelet aggregation in a concentration-dependent manner. The combination of low concentrations of 5-HT and U-46619 caused full platelet aggregation, whereas each agent alone, at these concentrations, caused a transient aggregation. 5-HT-induced aggregation was inhibited by ketanserin (0.01-0.3 micromol/l), a 5-HT2 receptor antagonist, in a concentration-dependent manner. Collagen-induced platelet aggregation was also inhibited by ketanserin, whereas the inhibition by indomethacin was modest even at the highest concentration tested (300 micromol/l). U-46619 triggered platelet aggregation in a biphasic manner. Ketanserin inhibited only the second phase of the aggregation. The inhibition of U-46619-induced aggregation by ketanserin occurred at a concentration range similar to that for 5-HT-induced platelet aggregation. Likewise, platelet aggregation induced by the combination of low concentrations of 5-HT and U-46619 was fully inhibited by ketanserin. These data suggest a major involvement of platelet-derived 5-HT in TXA2-dependent aggregation in cat platelets.