Biomaterial Database

Megakaryocyte motility and platelet formation. 1987

R M Leven

Division of Biology and Medicine, Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley 94720.

The mechanism of platelet formation is reviewed with special emphasis on the role of the cytoskeleton. The three major theories for platelet formation are by cytoplasmic budding, cytoplasmic dissolution or pseudopod formation. Most evidence indicates that platelets form as fragments of megakaryocyte pseudopodia. Pseudopodia formation is stimulated in vitro by thrombocytopenic rabbit plasma. It is inhibited by vincristine and altered by taxol. Cytochalasins cause pseudopodia to form in isolated megakaryocytes. Therefore, normal pseudopodia formation may depend on a combination of microfilament disorganization and microtubule elongation.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008533	Megakaryocytes	Very large BONE MARROW CELLS which release mature BLOOD PLATELETS.	Megakaryocyte
D008854	Microscopy, Electron	Microscopy using an electron beam, instead of light, to visualize the sample, thereby allowing much greater magnification. The interactions of ELECTRONS with specimens are used to provide information about the fine structure of that specimen. In TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY the reactions of the electrons that are transmitted through the specimen are imaged. In SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY an electron beam falls at a non-normal angle on the specimen and the image is derived from the reactions occurring above the plane of the specimen.	Electron Microscopy
D001792	Blood Platelets	Non-nucleated disk-shaped cells formed in the megakaryocyte and found in the blood of all mammals. They are mainly involved in blood coagulation.	Platelets,Thrombocytes,Blood Platelet,Platelet,Platelet, Blood,Platelets, Blood,Thrombocyte
D002465	Cell Movement	The movement of cells from one location to another. Distinguish from CYTOKINESIS which is the process of dividing the CYTOPLASM of a cell.	Cell Migration,Locomotion, Cell,Migration, Cell,Motility, Cell,Movement, Cell,Cell Locomotion,Cell Motility,Cell Movements,Movements, Cell
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia