The effects of methyl mercury on platelets: induction of aggregation and release via activation of the prostaglandin synthesis pathway
Macfarlane, D.E.
Molecular Pharmacology 19(3): 470-476
1981
ISSN/ISBN: 0026-895X PMID: 7266471 Document Number: 177832
Effects of methyl mercury [MM] on human blood platelets was studied. It induced platelet shape change, aggregation and release reaction and the synthesis of malondialdehyde. All effects were inhibited by indomethacin, a cyclooxygenase inhibitor. The release reaction and malondialdehyde generation could be induced in the absence of aggregation and prostaglandin E1 inhibited release but not malondialdehyde production. Activation of arachidonate cycloperoxidation was a plausible and adequate explanation for effects of MM and the toxic effects of MM were probably due to an analogous disturbance of lipid metabolism in other tissue. MM also inhibited the prostaglandin E1-stimulated adenylate cyclase of platelets, influenced the rate of uptake of adenosine, adenine and serotonin and had minor effects on adenine nucleotide metabolism.