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1 - History of platelets

from PART I - PHYSIOLOGY

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 May 2010

J. Fraser Mustard
Affiliation:
Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada; Present address: The Founders' Network-CIAR, 401 Richmond St., Suite 281, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5V 3A8
Raelene L. Kinlough-Rathbone
Affiliation:
Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Marian A. Packham
Affiliation:
Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Paolo Gresele
Affiliation:
Università degli Studi di Perugia, Italy
Clive P. Page
Affiliation:
Sackler Institute of Pulmonary Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Guy's, King's and St Thomas' School of Biomedical Sciences, London
Valentin Fuster
Affiliation:
Mount Sinai Medical Center and School of Medicine, New York
Jos Vermylen
Affiliation:
Universiteitsbibliotheek-K.U., Leuven
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Summary

Introduction

In this chapter, we have concentrated on early observations that helped to open up new avenues of research, brought about greater understanding of hemorrhagic and arterial thromboembolic disorders, and in some instances led to new diagnostic methods and novel treatments for the complications of atherosclerosis. Over the years, technological developments have provided more and more tools for investigation. In the 1950s, electron microscopy began to reveal the fine structure of platelets, platelet aggregates, and thrombi. In the 1960s, aggregometers stimulated experiments with aggregating agents and their inhibitors; now, the pace has quickened with the introduction of flow cytometry, molecular biology techniques, monoclonal antibodies, genetically engineered animals and other new approaches.

Findings from research in other fields have frequently been applied to platelets, and knowledge about platelet functions has increased exponentially in the last 50 years. Time and time again, several groups almost simultaneously reported similar new results, but seldom has the rivalry been acrimonious. Some of the key players in the years between 1950 and 1980 have retired or are no longer with us, but this brief history mentions a few of the many contributions they made when the field was young.

Since other chapters will deal with recent findings, we have not attempted to provide a detailed history of the many new topics under investigation, such as the signalling pathways in platelets.

Type
Chapter
Information
Platelets in Thrombotic and Non-Thrombotic Disorders
Pathophysiology, Pharmacology and Therapeutics
, pp. 3 - 24
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2002

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  • History of platelets
    • By J. Fraser Mustard, Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada; Present address: The Founders' Network-CIAR, 401 Richmond St., Suite 281, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5V 3A8, Raelene L. Kinlough-Rathbone, Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, Marian A. Packham, Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
  • Edited by Paolo Gresele, Università degli Studi di Perugia, Italy, Clive P. Page, Valentin Fuster, Jos Vermylen, Universiteitsbibliotheek-K.U., Leuven
  • Book: Platelets in Thrombotic and Non-Thrombotic Disorders
  • Online publication: 10 May 2010
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511545283.002
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  • History of platelets
    • By J. Fraser Mustard, Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada; Present address: The Founders' Network-CIAR, 401 Richmond St., Suite 281, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5V 3A8, Raelene L. Kinlough-Rathbone, Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, Marian A. Packham, Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
  • Edited by Paolo Gresele, Università degli Studi di Perugia, Italy, Clive P. Page, Valentin Fuster, Jos Vermylen, Universiteitsbibliotheek-K.U., Leuven
  • Book: Platelets in Thrombotic and Non-Thrombotic Disorders
  • Online publication: 10 May 2010
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511545283.002
Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

  • History of platelets
    • By J. Fraser Mustard, Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada; Present address: The Founders' Network-CIAR, 401 Richmond St., Suite 281, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5V 3A8, Raelene L. Kinlough-Rathbone, Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, Marian A. Packham, Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
  • Edited by Paolo Gresele, Università degli Studi di Perugia, Italy, Clive P. Page, Valentin Fuster, Jos Vermylen, Universiteitsbibliotheek-K.U., Leuven
  • Book: Platelets in Thrombotic and Non-Thrombotic Disorders
  • Online publication: 10 May 2010
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511545283.002
Available formats
×