The lifespan of circulating endogenous platelets is determined by a combination of random platelet removal and a nonrandom aging mechanism after which senescent platelets are removed by the reticuloendothelial system. At least a portion of platelet senescence is regulated by an intrinsic apoptotic pathway that acts as an internal timer. Platelets contain members of the antiapoptotic Bcl-2 famil...

BACKGROUND The Mirasol pathogen reduction technology (PRT) system uses riboflavin and ultraviolet light and is currently approved and used in Europe for the treatment of platelets and plasma. Mirasol treatment is intended to reduce the infectious pathogen load and to inactivate leukocytes in blood products. Our objective was to evaluate buffy coat platelet concentrates (BCPCs) prepared with pla...

The coding sequence of the serotonin transporter gene was compared in two strains of rat-the Wistar and the fawn-hooded rat (FHR). The FHR has an inherited platelet storage-pool deficiency and a widespread impairment of serotonin storage. It is also susceptible to systemic and pulmonary hypertension. The FHR provides a model to study the genetics in human systemic and pulmonary hypertension. We...

Beta-thromboglobulin is a platelet specific protein which is released from platelets during the platelet release reaction. The amount of beta-thromboglobulin released during various conditions of in vitro storage, including cryopreservation, was compared. The results suggest the measurement of beta-thromboglobulin is unlikely to be of use as a quality control assay for monitoring the in vitro v...