Blood, 1973, Vol. 42, No. 6, pp. 913-918.
© 1973 American Society of Hematology, Inc.
Isolation and Properties of
Human Platelet Mitochondria
Miriam H. Fukami 1 and
Leon Salganicoff 1
1 Department of Pharmacology and Specialized Center of Research in Thrombosis, Temple
University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pa. 19140.
A mitochondrial fraction of human platelets that exhibited respiration coupled to
ADP utilization has been isolated. These
activities were sensitive to classical inhibitors of mitochondrial respiration and
oxidative phosphorylation. Pyridine
nucleotide-linked substrates were oxidized at low rates (4-7 natoms/min/
mg), but succinate and 
-glycerophosphate were oxidized more rapidly (16
and 38 natoms/min/mg, respectively).
Difference spectra showed the presence
of the mitochondrial respiratory chain
cytochromes, c1 + c, b, and a + a3. Electron micrographs revealed the presence
of intact mitochondria with well-preserved outer membranes, as well as various -granules. There appeared to be no
qualitative differences between these
human platelet mitochondria and pig
platelet mitochondria isolated by the
same procedure.
Submitted on March 16, 1973
Revised on June 4, 1973
Accepted on June 5, 1973
