Differential Platelet Spatial Morphodynamics in Response to Local Signaling Environments Within a Jugular Puncture Wound Thrombus

We focused on two microenvironments within a 5-min jugular vein puncture wound thrombus. The goal was to infer from 3D platelet morphodynamics how microenvironments determine platelet activation state. Platelets at the collagen-rich adventitial interface were rod shaped and oriented vertical to flow vectors. The net effect was to maximize their interaction with collagen. At the wound hole interface, soluble signaling should predominant. Here, the typical platelet exhibited what appeared to be a “migratory”, granule-free, leading edge extending toward the wound hole from an organelle rich cell body. Morphologically, this structure resembled the leading edge of a wound associated fibroblast. Platelets were aligned parallel with one another and at ~45 degrees to blood flow. We submit the morphodynamics observed here indicate novel similarities between platelets and wound associated nucleated cells.