title: The effect of forskolin on blood flow, platelet metabolism, aggregation and ATP release.
abstract: Forskolin, a diterpene obtained from coleus forskolii, is a potent cAMP stimulator. We have evaluated the effects of forskolin on blood flow, platelet aggregation and metabolism. It was found that forskolin has a dose dependent vaso-relaxing effect in an in vivo sheep model, when infused intra-arterially. Furthermore forskolin, in a dose-dependent fashion reduced whole blood platelet aggregation and ATP release. Pretreatment of PTFE grafts with Forskolin significantly reduced platelet consumption 3 hours postoperatively and on the first postoperative day. The overall platelet metabolism, measured by a microcalorimetric technique after treatment with forskolin in vitro and ex-vivo postoperatively was significantly increased.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Forskolin affects blood flow and platelet parameters favourably in the setting of occlusive arterial disease and reconstructive arterial surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University.
authors.forename: J T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Christenson
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Thulesius
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Nazzal
mesh_terms: D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000097:blood*; D000818:Animals; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis; D005576:Colforsin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006083:Graft Occlusion, Vascular / Q000097:blood; D006614:Hindlimb / Q000098:blood supply*; D008297:Male; D010974:Platelet Aggregation / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene; D012756:Sheep
chemical_list: D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D005576:Colforsin; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene