Dynamics of tether formation under high shear conditions.
Washed platelets (3 × 108/mL) were perfused through VWF-coated (100 μg/mL) microcapillary tubes at 5000 s−1(A) Scanning electron micrographs of membrane tethers (scale bar equals 1 μm). These tethers consisted of a thicker proximal end that was significantly shorter than the thinner distal end (graph) (P < .05). (B) Digitized images (right panels) and corresponding schematics (left panels) of a platelet forming multiple membrane tethers during surface translocation at 5000 s−1. During translocation, a specialized adhesion contact forms (arrowheads) at 2 inches resulting in the formation of a thin membrane tether. This tether is rapidly released and a second membrane tether forms at 3 inches. This tether remains attached to the matrix for a slightly longer period of time (2 seconds), then detaches and a third tether forms at 10 inches.
