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Diabetes mellitus is associated with altered platelet function and endothelial damage, but their relationship remains unclear. We examined the effect of short-term metabolic control with insulin in 14- and 28-day streptozocin-induced diabetic rats on alterations in in vitro platelet aggregation and serotonin release. Endothelial damage was assessed by plasma concentrations of von Willebrand factor activity (VIIIR:WF) and factor VIII-related antigen (VIIIR:Ag). Insulin was administered for 5 or 7 days at 9 or 21 days, respectively, after streptozocin. Enhanced platelet aggregation responses to adenosine diphosphate (ADP) and thrombin occurred after both durations of diabetes. Insulin therapy returned ADP-induced, but not thrombin-induced, responses to normal. Enhanced thrombin-induced platelet release of serotonin occurred at both times. Collagen-induced platelet release was enhanced in 28-day diabetic rats. Insulin therapy returned these responses to normal. Plasma concentrations of VIIIR:WF and VIIIR:Ag were elevated in 28-day, but only VIIIR:WF was elevated in 14-day diabetic rats. Insulin therapy reduced the elevated levels of VIIIR:Ag in 28-day diabetic rats, but had little effect on either parameter after the shorter duration of diabetes. In summary, Enhanced platelet aggregation and increased release of serotonin occur shortly after the induction of diabetes by streptozocin in adult rats. These platelet changes precede alterations of endothelial function, as determined by plasma VIIIR:WF and VIIIR:Ag levels. Platelet changes respond more rapidly to insulin therapy than do endothelial changes in diabetic rats. The duration of diabetes before insulin therapy does not affect these relationships.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The relationship between platelet abnormalities and vessel wall changes in diabetes is not known. We have examined the time course of alterations in in vitro platelet function and endothelial damage, as assessed by measurement of plasma levels of von Willebrand factor (VIIIR:WF) and factor VIII-related antigen (VIIIR:Ag), in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Platelet aggregation and the platelet release reaction in response to ADP, thrombin, and collagen were measured in suspensions of washed platelets prepared from rats 3, 7, 14, or 28 days after induction of diabetes and in control animals. Platelets from diabetic animals showed enhanced aggregation response to ADP as early as 3 days after induction of diabetes and became hyperresponsive to thrombin after 7 days, compared to control platelets. Thrombin-induced release of serotonin was greater in platelets from diabetic animals at 14 days. Collagen-induced responses were not different at any time studied. VIIIR:WF was determined by ristocetin-induced platelet agglutination time in gel-filtered platelets, and VIIIR:Ag was determined by immunoelectrophoretic technique. VIIIR:WF and VIIIR:Ag were significantly enhanced in plasma from rats at 28 days after induction of diabetes and VIIIR:Ag was enhanced in plasma from rats at 14 days after induction of diabetes, but at the earlier times studied, neither were different from values in plasma from control-treated rats. Changes in VIIIR:WF and VIIIR:Ag therefore occurred later than the changes in platelet function. Plasma cholesterol concentrations were not significantly different at any of the times studied, but plasma triglyceride concentrations were significantly increased at 3 days and remained increased with further durations of diabetes. This may have contributed to the observed platelet and vessel wall changes. If these in vitro alterations reflect in vivo behavior, then platelet alterations occur before vessel wall changes and therefore do not appear to be a consequence of such changes in experimental diabetes mellitus.

Second-phase platelet aggregation induced by adenosine diphosphate (ADP) and epinephrine was measured in fasting platelet-rich plasma in normals, "prediabetics," and diabetics with or without vascular disease. "Plasma factor" potentiation of ADP-induced second-phase platelet aggregation was also estimated, as were megathrombocyte numbers in the same patient groups. There was an increased sensitivity of second-phase platelet aggregation noted with both aggregating agents in all diabetic groups except for the prediabetics. This activity was paralleled by an increase in plasma factor activity. In vivo evidence of an increased turnover of platelets in frank diabetics was suggested by increased numbers of megathrombocytes. These studies demonstrate that platelets from diabetics are sensitive to aggregating agents and that this sensitivity may be related to plasma factor(s) present in diabetics. In vivo platelet aggregation may be present in diabetics. Longitudinal studies will be necessary to establish the relationship of these findings to the genesis of diabetic vascular disease.