Aim L-Arginine· L-aspartate, a double salt, has been recently reported toinhibit platelet aggregation and thrombosis, but its action mechanism is not clear yet. This studywas conducted to investigate its effect on FITC-PAC-1, an anti-glycoprotein IIb/IIIa monoclonalantibody binding to activated platelets, and on correlative autacoid levels in plasma or inplatelets in order to explore its potential pathway of inhibiting platelet aggregation andthrombosis. Methods Monoclonal antibody binding to activated platelets was assayed by flowcytometry; NO was assessed by colorimetric method. cAMP, TXB_2 or 6-keto-PGF_(1α) levels wereassessed by radioimmunoassay. Results Gavaged 30 mg·kg^(-1) of L-arginine·L-aspartate increasedboth concentration of NO in plasma and 6-keto-PGF_(1) in incubated supernatant of aortic segment ofrats ex vivo (P < 0.05), but it did not influence cAMP content in platelets and the level of TXB_2or 6-keto-PGF_(1) in plasma of rats, whereas ASA significantly lowered TXB_2 or 6-keto-PGF_(1α) inplasma. Both 100 μmol-L^(-1) of L-arginine ·L-aspartate and ASA inhibited FITC-PAC-1 binding toactivated platelets in vitro. Conclusion The increase in NO and PGI_2 release from endo-thelialcells and consequent inhibition of platelet activation may contribute to the inhibition of plateletaggregation and thrombosis by L-arginine· L-aspartate; whereas arachidonic acid or cAMP metabolicpathway is not closely correlative with the studied effect.
