Effects of Dimethyl Sulphoxide and of Vitamin A on Human Platelets

Summary

Dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO) causes some release of amino acids, adenine nucleotides, and acid phosphatase and β-glucuronidase activities from washed human platelets. Addition of vitamin A with DMSO greatly enhances the effect; but vitamin A in ethanol added to platelets fails to release amino acids and nucleotides. Release appears to be due to a change in permeability of the platelet membrane, not to the discharge of contents of intracellular structures. Lipid peroxidation of membrane phospholipids, or a similar reaction, may be involved. Thrombin causes a different type of alteration in platelet permeability.

The results suggest that DMSO should not be used as a preservative for platelets. They may have some bearing on the mechanisms of toxicity of DMSO and vitamin A.

^* Present address: Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service, 290, Wellington Street, Perth, W. A., Australia.

• References

• 1 Djerassi I, Roy A. A method for preservation of viable platelets: combined effects of sugars and dimethylsulfoxide. Blood 1963; 22: 703
• 2 Djerassi I, Farber S, Roy A, Cavins J. Preparation and in vivo circulation of human platelets preserved with combined dimethylsulfoxide and dextrose. Transfusion 1966; 6: 572
• 3 Dingle J.T. Action of vitamin A on the stability of lysosomes in vivo and in vitro. de Reuck A. V, Cameron S, Cameron M. P. @@London: In: Ciba Foundation Symposium on Lysosomes. Edit 1963; 384
• 4 Lucy J.A, Luscombe M, Dingle J.T. Studies on the mode of action of excess of vitamin A. 8. Mitochondrial swelling. Biochem. J. 1963; 89: 419
• 5 Lucy J.A, Dingle J.T. Fat-soluble vitamins and biological membranes. Nature (Lond.). 1964; 204: 156
• 6 Woodin A.M, Wienege A.A. The participation of calcium, adenosine triphosphate and adenosine triphosphatase in the extrusion of the granule proteins from the polymorphonuclear leucocyte. Biochem. J. 1964; 90: 498
• 7 Kowalski E, Kopeć M, Węgrzynowicz Z, Hurwic M, Budzyński A.Z. A lysosomal concept of the platelet release reaction and viscous metamorphosis. Thrombos. Diathes. haemorrh. (Stuttg.) 1966; 16: 134
• 8 Bettex-Galland M, Lüscher E.F. Studies on the metabolism of human blood platelets in relation to clot retraction. ibid 1960; 4: 178
• 9 Davey M.G, Lüscher E.F. Actions of some coagulant snake venoms on blood platelets. Nature (Lond.) 1965; 207: 730
• 10 Siegel A.M, Lüscher E.F. Non-identity of the α-granules of human blood platelets with typical lysosomes. Nature (Lond.) 1967; 215: 745
• 11 Davey M.G, Lüscher E.F. Unpublished.
• 12 Weissmann G, Sessa G, Bevans V. Effect of DMSO on the stabilization of lysosomes by cortisone and chloroquine in vitro. Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci. 1967; 141: 326
• 13 MacGregor W.S. The chemical and physical properties of DMSO. ibid. 1967; 141: 3
• 14 Muset P.P, Martin-Estève J. Physiological cell permeability and pharmacological action of DMSO. Experientia (Basel) 1965; 21: 649
• 15 Robinson J.D. Interaction between protein sulphydryl groups and lipid double bonds in biological membranes. Nature (Lond.) 1966; 212: 199
• 16 Gerhards E, Gibian H. The metabolism of dimethyl sulfoxide and its metabolic effects in man and animals. Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci. 1967; 141: 65
• 17 Preston J.W, Bouchier I.A.D. Potentiation of carbon tetrachloride toxicity by dimethyl sulphoxide.. Nature (Lond.) 1967; 214: 734
• 18 Baccino F.M, Rita G.A, Dianzani M.U. Further experiments on the action of CCl₄ on lysosomes in vitro. Enzymologia 1965; 29: 169
• 19 Comporti M, Saccocci C, Dianzani M.U. Effect of CCl₄ in vitro and in vivo on lipid peroxidation of rat liver homogenates and subcellular JT fractionsibid. 1965; 29: 185
• 20 de Duve C, Pressman B.C, Gianetto R, Wattiaux R, Appelmans F. Tissue fractionation studies. 6. Intercellular distribution patterns of enzymes in rat-liver tissue. Biochem. J. 1955; 60: 604
• 21 Buckingham S, Maynert E.W. The release of 5-hydroxytryptamine, potassium and amino acids from platelets. J. Pharmacol. (Baltimore) 1964; 143: 332
• 22 Cousin C, Vainer H, Michel H, Gautier A, Caen J. Enzymes et fonctions des plaquettes au cours de leur conservation. Nouv. Rev. franc. Hémat. 1966; 6: 279
• 23 Cohen P, Gardner F.H. Platelet preservation II. Preservation of canine platelet concentrates by freezing in solutions of glycerol-plasma. J. clin. Invest. 1962; 41: 10
• 24 Smith E.R, Hadidian Z, Mason M.M. The single - and repeated — dose toxicity of dimethyl sulfoxide. Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci. 1967; 141: 96
• 25 Caujolle F.M.E, Caujolle D.H, Gros S.B, Calvet M.J. Limits of toxic and teratogenic tolerance of dimethyl sulfoxide. ibid. 1967; 141: 110
• 26 Jacob S.W, Bischel M, Herschler R.J. Dimethyl sulfoxide: Effects on the permeability of biologic membranes (preliminary report). Curr. ther. Res. 1964; 6: 193