Context: Studies of platelet function in diabetics are inconsistent, some studies reporting higher platelet reactivity, while others showed no change.
Objective: We aimed to evaluate platelet indices and in vitro platelet aggregation in rats with long-lasting (28 weeks) diabetes mellitus.
Design: Twelve controls and 14 diabetic rats were investigated. Diabetes was induced in 11-week-old rats using streptozotocin (60 mg/kg,i.p.). Platelet indices and in vitro adenosine diphosphate (ADP)-, protease-activated receptor 4 (PAR4) agonist-, and arachidonic acid (AA)-induced platelet aggregation were assessed at the age of 38 weeks.
Results: Compared to controls, diabetic rats presented lower platelet count and plateletcrit (both p≤0.001), and higher mean platelet volume (p<0.01). ADP- (p=0.04) and AA-induced (p<0.01) platelet aggregation were lower in diabetic compared with control rats, whereas PAR4 agonist-induced platelet aggregation was similar between the two groups (p=1.00).
Conclusions: This study demonstrates a paradox of high intrinsic platelet reactivity and low in vitro ADP- and AA-induced platelet aggregation in diabetic rats compared with non-diabetic controls. The relevance of in vitro platelet aggregation to the contribution of platelets to in vivo thromboembolic events in diabetic rats remains questionable.
Keywords: animal model; diabetes mellitus; platelet aggregation; platelet indices; streptozotocin.