Diacylglycerol lipase pathway is a minor source of released arachidonic acid in thrombin-stimulated human platelets.

It has been postulated that the diacylglycerol lipase pathway is a predominant source of the free arachidonic acid which is released from phospholipids upon the exposure of human platelets to thrombin. The amount of released arachidonic acid and other fatty acids in thrombin-stimulated platelets was determined in the presence of BW755C, the cyclooxygenase/lipoxygenase inhibitor, and in relation to phosphatidylinositol degradation and phosphatidic acid formation. A stearic acid:arachidonic acid molar ratio approaching unity would be expected in the free fatty acid fraction if the latter pathway were a major source of released arachidonic acid. Our results indicate that the diacylglycerol lipase pathway contributes a maximum of 3-4 nmol of arachidonic acid/2 X 10(9) platelets or 12-15% of the total arachidonic acid released (25.8 nmol/2 X 10(9) platelets) upon exposure to thrombin (2 units/ml) for 4 min. Trifluoperazine inhibited most of the thrombin-dependent free arachidonic acid release but only 15% of the absolute loss of arachidonic acid from phosphatidylinositol. Therefore, we conclude that the diacylglycerol lipase pathway represents only a minor source of the free arachidonic acid that is released upon thrombin stimulation of human platelets.