Summary
The number of circulating platelets was monitored in anaesthetized animals by a continuous
flow technique, using a Technicon Autocounter®. Intravenous infusions of adenosine
diphosphate (ADP) produced transient, dose-dependent falls in circulating platelet
numbers in rabbits, dogs, rats, pigs and squirrel monkeys. The rat was the most sensitive
of the species investigated.
In the rabbit, the effect of a submaximal dose of ADP was inhibited in a dose-dependent
manner by intravenous infusions of prostaglandin E1 (PGE1 ), dipyridamole, and two derivatives of dipyridamole (SH-869 and VK-774). The dose-response
curves for PGEl , SH-869 and VK-774 were approximately parallel, whereas that for dipyridamole was
considerably less steep. PGE1 was the most potent inhibitor, but the duration of action was very short. Dipyridamole
and SH-869 produced inhibition of long duration. The duration of action of VK-774
was intermediate.
All inhibitors produced marked and often long-lasting hypotension. The fact that no
inhibition of ADP effects could be demonstrated with dibenzyline and hexamethonium,
which also produced marked hypotension of long duration, indicated that inhibition
of the ADP effect by the four antagonists studied was not due to changes in blood
pressure.