THE ACID MUCOPOLYSACCHARIDE AND 5-HYDROXYTRYPTAMINE CONTENT OF HUMAN THROMBOCYTES IN RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIC AND NONARTHRITIC INDIVIDUALS*

Abstract

Qualitative characterization of the acid mucopolysaccharides of human thrombocytes has yielded data suggesting a mixture of chondrotin sulfates B and C. The acid mucopolysaccharide content correlated with the amount of thrombocyte protein present per unit of blood. The 5-hydroxytryptamine content correlated with the amount of blood from which the thrombocytes were separated. On comparison of 3 groups of patients (non-inflammatory, non-rheumatoid inflammatory and active rheumatoid), the thrombocyte protein level/unit of blood was significantly elevated in the inflammatory and rheumatoid groups, as was the acid mucopolysaccharide content of thrombocytes per unit of blood. The 5-hydroxytryptamine content of thrombocytes, in contrast, was slightly lower in the inflammatory and rheumatoid groups (and to a possibly significant degree in the rheumatoid group), despite the higher level of thrombocyte protein per unit of blood.