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In Vitro Platelet Activation by an Echo Contrast Agent
Author(s) -
Shigeta Kouichirou,
Taniguchi Nobuyuki,
Omoto Kiyoka,
Madoiwa Seiji,
Sakata Yoichi,
Mori Masaki,
Hatake Kiyohiko,
Itoh Kouichi
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
journal of ultrasound in medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.574
H-Index - 91
eISSN - 1550-9613
pISSN - 0278-4297
DOI - 10.7863/jum.2003.22.4.365
Subject(s) - medicine , paraformaldehyde , platelet , microbubbles , mechanical index , platelet activation , in vitro , fluorescein , ultrasound , fluorescein isothiocyanate , pathology , nuclear medicine , radiology , fluorescence , biochemistry , chemistry , physics , quantum mechanics
Objective . We investigated whether an ultrasonic echo contrast agent containing microbubbles (Levovist [SH U 508A]; Schering AG, Berlin, Germany) could in routine use activate platelets. Methods . Levovist and its main component, galactose, were mixed with separate samples of whole blood (1.5–75 mg/mL) from 5 healthy volunteers to form a 1‐mL suspension sample. After in vitro exposure to ultrasound emitted from a commercial ultrasonic scanner at a pulse frequency of 3.5 MHz with a mechanical index of 1.9 and an exposure duration of 5 minutes, 5 μL of the sample was incubated for 20 minutes with the fluorescein isothiocyanate‐labeled CD61 antibody, which is a platelet‐specific antigen, and the phycoerythrin‐labeled CD62P (P‐selectin) antibody, an activation‐specific antigen, both on the platelet surface. After more than 30 minutes of fixing in 1% paraformaldehyde, flow cytometric analysis was performed. Results . The percentage of CD62P‐expressing platelets increased according to the concentrations of Levovist and galactose, which showed almost equal effects. Ultrasound exposure did not enhance the effect except at the highest concentration of Levovist (75 mg/mL). Conclusions . In vitro, a galactose‐based echo contrast agent could not activate the platelets at its routine concentration.