Assessment of a dimethyl sulfoxide-stabilized frozen canine platelet concentrate.
OBJECTIVE
To assess platelet count, mean platelet volume (MPV), metabolic characteristics, and platelet function in a dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO)-stabilized canine frozen platelet concentrate (PC).


METHODS
11 units of a commercial frozen PC in 6% DMSO and fresh platelet-rich plasma from 6 healthy control dogs.


METHODS
PCs were thawed, and the following data were collected: thaw time, platelet count, MPV, pH, PCO2, and PO2 and HCO3-, glucose, and lactate content. Phosphatidylserine translocation was determined by use of flow cytometry. Fresh platelet-rich plasma from healthy dogs served as a source of control platelets for flow cytometric analysis.


RESULTS
At thaw, the platelet count in the frozen PC ranged from 243,000 to 742,000 platelets/microL. Median platelet count of paired samples was 680,000 platelets/microL and decreased significantly to 509,000 platelets/microL at 2 hours after thaw. Median MPV at thaw was 11.15 femtoliters and was stable after 2 hours. Compared with fresh platelets, frozen PC had increased amounts of phosphatidylserine in the outer leaflet of the platelet membrane in the resting (ie, not treated with thrombin) state (19% vs 99%, respectively) and alterations in cellular morphology, all of which were consistent with platelet activation.


CONCLUSIONS
Results of this in vitro study indicated that there was a decrease in platelet quantity and function as well as an increase in platelet activation during the freeze-and-thaw process in DMSO-stabilized canine frozen PC. In vivo effects on PC remain to be determined.
Guillaumin
Julien
J
Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
Jandrey
Karl E
KE
Norris
Jeffrey W
JW
Tablin
Fern
F
D000818:Animals; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D015925:Cryopreservation; D003451:Cryoprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004121:Dimethyl Sulfoxide / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004285:Dogs; D014021:Tissue Preservation / Q000379:methods
D003451:Cryoprotective Agents; D004121:Dimethyl Sulfoxide