title: Effect of splenectomy on platelet activation and decompression sickness outcome in a rat model of decompression.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Splenic platelets have been recognized to have a greater prothrombotic potential than others platelets. We studied whether platelets released by splenic contraction could influence the severity and outcome of decompression sickness (DCS) and bubble-induced platelet activation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixteen, male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to either a control or a splenectomized group. Both groups were compressed to 1,000 kPa (90 metres' sea water) for 45 min while breathing air before staged decompression (5 min at 200 kPa, 5 min at 160 kPa and 10 min at 130 kPa). The onset time of DCS symptoms and of death were recorded during a 60-min observation period post dive. Parameters measured were platelet factor 4 (PF4) for platelet activation, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) for oxidative stress status and Von Willebrand factor (VWf) for endothelial activation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no differences between the groups in DCS outcome or in PF4, TBARS and VWf concentrations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results do not support that the spleen and its exchangeable platelet pool is involved in DCS pathogenesis in a rat model, invalidating the hypothesis that increased decompression-induced platelet aggregation could be influenced by splenic contraction and then play a role in DCS outcome.
authors.affiliation: Orphy Laboratory, Université de Bretagne Occidentale, EA 4324 - Optimisation des Régulations Physiologique UFR Sciences et Techniques, 6 avenue Le Gorgeu, CS 93837, Brest Cedex 3, France, Phone: +33 (7) 62 14 11 60, Fax: +33 (2) 98 01 63 11, E-mail: lambrechtskate@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Kate
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lambrechts
authors.affiliation: Diving and Hyperbaric Department, French Navy Diving School, Brest, France.
authors.forename: Jean-Michel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Pontier
authors.affiliation: Orphy Laboratory, Université de Bretagne Occidentale, Brest, France.
authors.forename: Aleksandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mazur
authors.affiliation: Orphy Laboratory, Université de Bretagne Occidentale, Brest, France.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Buzzacott
authors.affiliation: Orphy Laboratory, Université de Bretagne Occidentale, Brest, France.
authors.forename: Christelle
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Goanvec
authors.affiliation: Orphy Laboratory, Université de Bretagne Occidentale, Brest, France.
authors.forename: Qiong
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Orphy Laboratory, Université de Bretagne Occidentale, Brest, France.
authors.forename: Michaël
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Theron
authors.affiliation: Orphy Laboratory, Université de Bretagne Occidentale, Brest, France.
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Belhomme
authors.affiliation: Orphy Laboratory, Université de Bretagne Occidentale, Brest, France.
authors.forename: François
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Guerrero
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003665:Decompression Sickness / Q000097:blood*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D015539:Platelet Activation / Q000502:physiology*; D010978:Platelet Factor 4 / Q000097:blood*; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D013156:Splenectomy; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances / Q000032:analysis*; D014841:von Willebrand Factor / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances; D014841:von Willebrand Factor; D010978:Platelet Factor 4
keywords: Pharmacology; animal model; decompression sickness; physiology; platelets; treatment