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-3 beta-ol and chol-5-en-3 beta-ol were even more sensitive to aggregation and could aggregate spontaneously on stirring. The size of the platelets containing pregn-5-en-3 beta-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.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0005-2736(82)90369-8 | DOI Listing |
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