Summary
To investigate the physiological role of novel genes and proteins in platelet activation,
various knockout mice have been produced. A number of standard inbred mouse strains
each possessing genetically unique characters such as high tumor generation, hyperglycemia
or hyperlipidemia, have been bred. In breeding knockout mice for investigation of
specific physiological functions, appropriate selection of parental or backcross strains
is necessary. Thus, examination of strain-specific platelet characteristics is important.
In the present study, platelet aggregation responses of 13 laboratory mouse strains,
129/Sv, A, AKR, BALB/c, C3H/He, C57BL/6J, CBA, DBA/1, DBA/2, ddY, FVB, ICR, and NZW,
and the diabetic strain C57BL/KsJ db/db, were compared. Marked strain differences
were observed inADP- and collagen-induced platelet aggregation. The highest responses
with both were seen in AKR/J and NZW/N, whereas the lowest were seen in DBA/2 and
DBA/1.There was a 5-fold difference in the platelet aggregation threshold index (PATI)
for ADP-induced PRP aggregation between AKR/J (0.6 µM) and DBA/2 (3.0 µM). With whole
blood aggregation, the highest response was seen in AKR, whereas the lowest was seen
in DBA/2 and DBA/1. The present study demonstrated that there is considerable strain
difference in platelet aggregation among laboratory mice, which should be taken into
account in backcrossing knockout strains.
Keywords
Platelet aggregation - mouse - strain difference