Intravascular Platelet Aggregation in the Heart Induced by Stress

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Abstract
Sixteen rats, stressed by immersion in ice-cold water for 25-45 min, were found to have platelet aggregates in myocardial small vessels on electron microscopic study. None of six similar nonstressed control rats had platelets in myocardial vessels. It is concluded that stress, probably via catecholamine secretion that enhances platelet stickiness, can induce intravascular platelet aggregation. It is possible that this mechanism plays a part in the relationship between stress and acute clinical myocardial infarction.