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Platelet Density and Size: the Interpretation of Heterogeneity
Author(s) -
PENINGTON D. G.,
LEE N. L. Y.,
ROXBURGH A. E.,
MCGREADY J. R.
Publication year - 1976
Publication title -
british journal of haematology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.907
H-Index - 186
eISSN - 1365-2141
pISSN - 0007-1048
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2141.1976.tb03583.x
Subject(s) - platelet , buoyant density , ageing , megakaryocyte , chemistry , biophysics , biology , biochemistry , microbiology and biotechnology , immunology , haematopoiesis , genetics , dna , stem cell
S ummary . Platelets have been separated according to buoyant density using a colloidal silica‐polyvinylpyrrolidone system and subjected to electronic sizing. All density populations were found to be heterogeneous in size, the most dense platelets ranging from less than 3 fl to greater than 21 fl in both man and rat. Light platelet fractions contained no platelets greater than 13 fl in either species. Cohort labelling with [ 75 Se]selenomethionine showed no indication of significant change in platelet buoyant density with ageing; greater specific activity found in young, dense platelets appears to be related to increased protein synthetic activity shown in vitro and likely to occur also in their precursor megakaryocytes. It is postulated that dense, intermediate and light platelets are released synchronously by the three different ploidy classes of megakaryocyte, that varying density indicates differing structural characteristics and presumably differences in function. The present findings do not deny the possibility that platelets decrease in size with ageing but if such occurs, it is not associated with a significant change in platelet buoyant density.