The effect of storage on the ganglioside content of human platelets

Gangliosides are glycolipids which contain sialic acid and are found in the membranes of mammalian cells. By analogy with recent studies of other cells, it is possible that gangliosides play a role in the membrane functions and in vivo survival of platelets. In order to determine if ganglioside destruction plays a role in the storage-induced loss of platelet viability and function (storage lesion), the ganglioside content of platelets was measured after 24 and 96 hours of storage. Samples were taken from platelet concentrates that were stored either on flat-bed shaker (n = 6) or on a circular rotator (n = 6). Total ganglioside content was determined colorimetrically from the total lipid extracts of purified platelet pellets using the Svennerholm resorcinol method. Ganglioside G(M)₃ content was determined by Folch partitioning. High peformance thin-layer chromatography, and densitometric scanning. Ganglioside content, measured as μg of lipid-bound sialic acid per 10¹⁰ platelets, was significantly decreased (p < 0.005) between 24 and 96 hours of storage, whether measured as total of G(M)₃ ganglioside. The mean values ± SEM at 24 and 96 hours storage were 9.4 ± 0.6 and 6.7 ± 0.6, respectively (n = 12 for each). These data indicate that storage causes irreversible loss of membrane ganglioside, which may be detrimental to the function and in vivo survival of platelets.