Platelet production: a computer based biological interpretation

Abstract

The platelet volume distribution was measured in rat and rabbit in normal steady state platelet production. The animals were then sacrificed and the planimetric megakaryocyte and nuclear areas in each animal were measured using histological techniques. These areas were used to obtain an estimate of the megakaryocyte, megakaryocyte cytoplasm and nuclear volume distributions. The production, by physical fragmentation, of the platelet population from the measured megakaryocyte cytoplasm volume distribution was simulated on a computer. The platelet volume distribution predicted by physical fragmentation was then compared with the measured circulating platelet volume distribution from each animal. The physical fragmentation theory gave an accurate quantitative prediction of the observed platelet volume distribution over the whole volume range. Furthermore fragmentation theory predicted the mean platelet volume, the mode, the maximum frequency of the platelet volume distribution and the range of this distribution. Autopsy studies of megakaryocytes volume distributions in healthy man were fragmented to obtain predicted normal platelet volume distributions from the computer simulation. These distributions were compared with measured circulating platelet volume distributions from apparently healthy men who had a similar mean platelet volume. The platelet volume distribution predicted by physical fragmentation was again in quantitative agreement with the measured distribution over the whole volume range. This study provides further evidence that platelet production from megakaryocyte cytoplasm is by physical fragmentation. Furthermore the computer simulation suggests that the mode of production has a specific form. It also explains why different mammals have different mean platelet volumes.