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Ethanol has been reported previously to inhibit chemically-induced platelet aggregation and the release of platelet contents. In platelet suspensions the mechanical stimulus of stirring can induce slow aggregation and the loss of endogenous arachidonic acid from phospholipids by activation of platelet phospholipases. These changes are prevented by the presence of ethanol 20-100 mM, whereas, in unstirred suspensions, ethanol alone has no effect on platelet phospholipids. Under similar conditions of reduced platelet: platelet contact, chemical stimuli, such as thrombi, although unable to produce visible aggregation, still cause the release of [3H]-5-hydroxytryptamine from platelets and also initiate the breakdown of platelet phospholipids. Ethanol does not now inhibit the thrombin-induced release of platelet contents and has little effect on phosphatidylinositol breakdown, though it inhibits phosphatidylcholine breakdown. Ethanol may therefore inhibit platelet aggregation by reducing the effect of mechanical and chemical stimuli on the activation of phospholipase A2. In contrast ethanol has rather little effect on the receptor-mediated breakdown of phosphatidylinositol which is apparently sufficient to trigger the release of platelet contents.

The aggregation of gel-filtered human platelets induced by A23187 is very sensitive to inhibition by ethanol. Similarly when platelets preloaded with [3H]5-hydroxytryptamine ([3H]5HT) are studied in a superfusion system under conditions where aggregation is likely (high platelet density, presence of Ca2+) the rate of release of [3H]5HT induced by A23187 is reduced by the presence of ethanol. However when platelet aggregation is less likely (low platelet density, absence of Ca2+) ethanol does not reduce the rate of [3H]5HT efflux induced by A23187 in superfused platelets. In addition, in contrast to the effects of ethanol on platelet aggregation, the transformation of human red cells to echinocytes induced by A23187 is accelerated by the presence of ethanol. Similarly the increased efflux of 3H from superfused rat striatal slices preloaded with [3H]dopamine which is produced by A23187 is potentiated by ethanol. It is concluded that the inhibitory effect of ethanol on the action of A23187 may be confined to platelet aggregation. This may be because the mechanisms of action of either A23187 or ethanol on platelet aggregation differ from those on other cell functions.