Lithium stimulates thrombosane B2 formation in human platelets

Abstract

The aggregation of human platelets is enhanced after preincubation with lithium salts. Previously it was shown that lithium inhibits adenylate cyclase activity in human platelets.

Enhancement of aggregation and inhibition of adenylate cyclase by lithium was not observed in rabbit platelets.

In this paper it is shown that in human platelets lithium enhances considerably the synthesis of thromboxane B₂, whereas the synthesis of PGE₂ and PGF_2α was enhanced to a lesser extent. In rabbit platelets lithium had no effect on prostaglandin synthesis. It is concluded that lithium specifically stimulates the synthesis of thromboxanes in human platelets, probably due to the previously reported inhibition of adenylate cyclase activity, resulting in an increased aggregability.