A New Method for Measuring the Dynamic Shape Change of Platelets.
BACKGROUND: Platelet shape change is a dynamic process that has been classified in different types. Exact documentation of platelet structure needs an improved method of measuring platelet shape. METHODS: 10 μl of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) from anticoagulated whole blood (3.2% buffered sodium citrate 0.105 mol/l) was put onto a glass slide covered with a cover slip. By use a of dark field light microscope connected with a CMOS-Camera a photographic snap-shot was taken after 5 and 30 min. Diameter of platelets and length of filopodia were measured with a self-developed plugin for ImageJ software. Statistic calculation was performed with Excel WinSTAT Microsoft software. RESULTS: We showed a swelling of the granulomer from 2.06 ± 0.56 μm to 2.33 ± 0.59 μm (p < 0.05), a reduction of pseudopodia (2.10 ± 0.94 vs. 1.78 ± 1.04 μm; p < 0.05) in conjunction with an increase of hyalomer diameter from 3.29 ± 0.83 to 3.50 ± 0.85 μm (p < 0.05), and an increase of pseudopodia length from 2.68 ± 1.45 μm to 3.67 ± 1.79 μm (p < 0.005) in conjunction with an increase of hyalomer diameter from 6.58 ± 1.91 μm to 7.94 ± 1.87 μm (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: We revealed and documented a dynamic change of platelet size and filopodia structure in PRP. This method allows an exact analysis of platelet size and surface structures.
Department of Transfusion Medicine and Hemostasis, University Hospital Erlangen, Germany.
Max-Joseph
MJ
Kraus
Erwin F
EF
Strasser
Reinhold
R
Eckstein