LAUSR

Background: Previous studies had shown that glycosaminoglycan (GAG) from Urechis unicinctus exerts an obvious antiplatelet aggregation effect. Objective: This study aims to investigate the effects of GAG from Urechis unicinctus on ADP-induced platelet calcium and membrane glycoprotein expressions in rats. Methods: Fura-2/AM fluorescence probe was used to measure intracytosolic free-calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) of platelets and calculate platelet calcium influx and release concentrations. Flow cytometry was used to detect the expressions of platelet membrane glycoproteins GPIIb/IIIa (PAC-1) and P-selectin (CD62P) in rats. Results: The results showed that the GAG from U. unicinctus significantly inhibited the release of platelet calcium (p < 0.01) and the expressions of platelet GPII b/IIIa and P-selectin (p < 0.01) induced by ADP in rats but had no significant effect on the influx of platelet calcium (p > 0.01). Conclusions: This study indicated that GAG may inhibit platelet activation and aggregation by reducing the release of Ca2+ and ADP-induced expression of platelet membrane glycoprotein in rats.