SIMULTANEOUS MEASUREMENT OF AGGREGATION, SECRETION, OXYGEN-UPTAKE, PROTON PRODUCTION, AND INTRACELLULAR METABOLITES IN THE SAME PLATELET SUSPENSION

A cuvette is described for the simultaneous measurement of hydrogen ions, calcium ions, light transmission, and pO2 in a single gel-filtered platelet suspension stirred at 37°C. A variable volume (2.5-10 ml) and special in- and outlets permit additions and sampling during incubation. Evidence is presented that changes in these parameters reflect lactate production in resting platelets (H+ measurement), secretion of dense granular content (Ca2+ measurement), shape change and aggregation (light transmission), and arachidonate oxidation and mitochondrial respiration (pO2 measurement). The cuvette therefore enables direct correlation between function and energy metabolism in platelets. © 1979.