The Effect of Chromium on Platelet Function In Vitro

Sodium chromate inhibits platelet function in vitro. The primary effect is inhibition of connective tissue-induced aggregation. In addition, the primary wave of epinephrine-induced aggregation is moderately inhibited and adenosine diphosphate-induced aggregation is mildly inhibited. The effect on connective tissue-induced aggregation is due to inhibition of the platelet "release reaction"; chromate inhibited the release of adenine nucleotides, ¹⁴C labeled serotonin and the activation of platelet factor III normally caused by connective tissue. The amount of chromium which must be bound to platelets to inhibit aggregation is 10-100 times the amount of radioactive chromium bound to platelets under the usual conditions of labeling for survival studies. However, this does not imply that chromium labeled platelets function normally.