1. Department of Biochemistry, University of Edinburgh Medical School, Hugh Robson Building, George Square, Edinburgh EH8 9XD U.K.;2. ICI Pharmaceuticals Division, Mereside, Alderley Park, Macclesfield, Cheshire, SK10 4TG U.K.
Abstract:
Cholesterol and analogues of cholesterol bearing shorter side chains were incorporated into rat platelet membranes by incubation with sterol-rich liposomes in vitro. Cholesterol-enriched platelets showed increased aggregability to collagen compared with controls. Platelets containing the cholesterol analogues pregn-5-en-3β-ol and chol-5-en-3β-ol were even more sensitive to aggregation and could aggregate spontaneously on stirring. The size of the platelets containing pregn-5-en-3β-ol was markedly reduced when compared with controls in the scanning electron microscope. The results suggest that the sterol content and structure of the platelet membrane can have a critical role in maintaining the normal function of the cell.