Patients with diabetes display increased platelet activation. Recent data show a markedly increased risk for cardiovascular events already in pre-diabetic individuals with
impaired glucose tolerance (IGT). We investigated whether IGT is associated with platelet activation. Blood samples were collected from young lean (control) and obese Zucker rats, an established model of IGT, after single oral application of
sucrose (4 g.kg-1). Platelet-bound
fibrinogen and platelet surface-expression of
P-selectin were assessed as indices of platelet activation using flow cytometry. In lean Zucker rats, acute
sucrose application induced
fibrinogen-binding and
P-selectin surface-expression, which was prevented by co-administration of
acarbose (10 mg.kg-1). In obese Zucker rats, platelet activation was already maximally increased under baseline conditions with no significant increase after
sucrose application. Chronic treatment with
acarbose (15 mg.kg-1.day-1) significantly reduced platelet activation in these animals. Acute ingestion of
sucrose induces platelet activation which is prevented by
acarbose. IGT is associated with marked platelet activation that can be reduced by chronic administration of
acarbose. The positive modulation of platelet activation by
acarbose may contribute to the reduction of cardiovascular events in patients with IGT.