Summary
Addition of N-acetyl neuraminic acid (sialic acid, NANA) to citrated rat platelet-rich
plasma significantly inhibited aggregation induced by near-threshold concentration
of ADP, collagen or thrombin. In heparinized rat platelet-rich plasma aggregation
of platelets induced by endotoxin or tumour cells of various origins was also inhibited
by sialic acid.
It is suggested that exogenous or endogenous sialic acid may act against various aggregating
stimuli on the platelet membrane by masking a common factor through which various
aggregating agents exert their effect.
