ENDOCRINE INFLUENCE ON THE PLASMIN-PLASMIN INHIBITOR SYSTEM IN THE BLOOD OF RATS

INTRODUCTION EARLIER studies have indicated that the equilibrium of the plasmin (fibrinolysin)-plasmin inhibitor (antifibrinolysin) system in blood can be shifted under various experimental conditions (Jensen, Chamovitz, Volkringer, Gray, Gosney and Kocholaty, in press). Ungar and his associates (1951, 1951) reported that certain endocrine principles act on this system by accelerating the rate of combination of plasmin and plasmin inhibitor. The findings of the present study do not seem to substantiate this concept. Instead, the recorded data tend to show that the increased antifibrinolytic activity, observed after administration of certain hormones, is a result of an actual rise in the plasmin inhibitor level in the blood. MATERIALS AND METHODS Male Sprague-Dawley albino rats weighing 220-250 gm were used. The animals were allowed food and water throughout the experiment. Unless noted all injections were given subcutaneously. Controls received either no injections or a volume of solvent equal to that use...