A plasmin generation method for the determination of tissue plasminogen activator activity in tissues

Abstract

Plasminogen activators are widely distributed in the body; they enzymatically convert the proenzyme plasminogen into plasmin. Plasminogen activators have been isolated either as urokinase-like or tissue type substances. Plasmin levels can serve as an index of fibrinolysis. Several methods have been used to quantitate plasminogen activator activity, including the fibrin plate method, euglobulin clot lysis time, immunoassays and, more recently, the use of a plasmin sensitive synthetic chromogenic substrate S-2251, a tripeptide H-D-Val-Leu-Lys-pNA. The present report describes a plasmin generation method for determining the tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) activity of placental and uterine tissues. t-PA activity was also determined on the same treated tissue extracts by the fibrin plate method.