Platelet activation

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Please Take Over This Page and Apply to be Editor-In-Chief for this topic: There can be one or more than one Editor-In-Chief. You may also apply to be an Associate Editor-In-Chief of one of the subtopics below. Please mail us [2] to indicate your interest in serving either as an Editor-In-Chief of the entire topic or as an Associate Editor-In-Chief for a subtopic. Please be sure to attach your CV and or biographical sketch.

Platelet activation is the process whereby a normally quiescent and round platelet undergoes functional and anatomic changes. These changes include:

1. Development of long pseudopods which increase the surface area of the platelet allowing for a greater probability or area for cross linking with fibrin strands
2. Expression glycoprotein IIbIIIa receptors which will bind fibrin strands to cross link platelets
3. Release ADP and other platelet activators into the local micro environment. Relase of ADP causes further platelet activation in a positive feedback loop.

Stimulatnts of platelet activation include:

1. Thrombin
2. Tethering and binding to vWF on the endothelial surface at an area of vascular injury
3. ADP

Template:SIB