Evidence that plasma fibrinogen and platelet membrane GPIIb-IIIa are involved in the adhesion of platelets to an artificial surface exposed to plasma

We investigated the molecular mechanism(s) by which platelets adhere to an artificial surface exposed to plasma, using polystyrene microtiter plates pretreated with plasma. Washed platelets labelled with 51Cr were incubated with the plates under static conditions. Prostaglandin E1(PGE1) was added to the platelets to prevent platelet-platelet interactions. Adhesion required the presence of a divalent cation such as Mg++ or Ca++. Polyclonal...