Haemorrheology of equine platelet-neutrophil aggregates

The filterability of platelet-neutrophil aggregates through filters containing 5 μm pores was determined to evaluate the potential neutrophil aggregates to alter blood microvasculature. Incubation of platelet-neutrophil mixture with platelet-activating factor (PAF) and with 0.5 μM adenosine diphosphate (ADP) resulted in large platelet-neutrophil aggregates which rapidly plugged filter pores, Incubation of platelet-neutrophil mixtures with lower concentrations of ADP resulted in small platelet-neutrophil aggregates that contained only one neutrophil. Filtration of these samples resulted in a 1.3-, 3.2- and 3.7-fold increase in initial filtration pressure at ADP concentrations of 0.05, 0.15 and 0.25 μM, respectively. We conclude that platelet-neutrophil aggregates have reduced deformability and may alter blood flow in the microvasculature.