Background: Whether there is a quantitative correlation between platelet microparticles (PMPs)/
calpain and
infarction area is still unclear. Whether present
antiplatelet agents can improve
myocardial infarction by influencing PMPs need to be revealed. The object of our study was to answer those questions. Methods: Male Wistar rats were used for all studies. All rats were randomly divided into five groups:
sham-operated group,
myocardial infarction group (blank control group),
aspirin intervention group,
aspirin combined with
clopidogrel intervention group, and
aspirin combined with
ticagrelor intervention group. Venous blood and hearts were collected at day 7 following MI. ELISA was applied to detect PMPs level.
Infarction size was determined by TTC staining method. The comparisons of multiple means were tested with analysis of variance. And the two-two comparisons among the means were done by Student-Newman-Keuls and
LSD method. Results: PMPs level and
infarction area did not differ between
aspirin combined with
clopidogrel intervention group and
aspirin combined with
ticagrelor intervention group. However, significant differences were detected between any two other groups. PMPs were decreased more in dual antiplatelet intervention group. Pearson correlation analysis showed a strong correlation between PMPs and
infarction area (r = 0.90) as well as
calpain 10 and
infarction area (r = 0.84). We created a regression model: y = 4.61 + 0.28*x (y:
infarction area, x: PMPs) to assess
myocardial infarction area by PMPs level. Conclusions:
Antiplatelet agents may decrease
infarction areas by modifying PMPs. There was a strong correlation between PMPs and
infarction area. Therefore, PMPs could be used as a tool to assess
infarction area.