ADP (Adenosine Diphosphate) significantly affects platelet function, influencing various processes essential for blood clotting.
ADP impacts the following:
- Platelet Aggregation: ADP causes both primary and secondary aggregation of platelets. Primary aggregation is the initial clumping of platelets, while secondary aggregation is the continued build-up of the platelet plug, even induced by other agonists.
- Platelet Shape Change: ADP induces alterations in platelet shape.
- Secretion from Storage Granules: ADP stimulates the release of substances stored within platelet granules.
- Calcium (Ca2+) Dynamics: ADP causes an influx and intracellular mobilization of Ca2+.
- Adenylyl Cyclase Activity: ADP inhibits stimulated adenylyl cyclase activity.
In summary, ADP plays a critical role in platelet activation and blood clot formation by influencing several key cellular processes.
