Preliminary Observations on the ultrastructural modifications of the freeze-cleaved circulating platelets surface in hypercholesterolemic rabbits treated with AD6

Circulating platelets show on their surface some "protuberances" placed among the plasma-membrane particles when examined with FE technique. Statistic tests have shown the significant difference in the average number of such protuberances between platelets of hypercholesterolemic and normocholesterolemic rabbits. After i.v. administration of AD6 (a substance with supposed anti-aggregating action) the number of the "protuberances" of circulating platelets of the hypercholesterolemic rabbits approaches to the average value of the normocholesterolemic ones. An interpretation of such plasma-membrane protuberances is proposed. © 1978 The Italian Pharmacological Society