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Fibrinolytic activity as well demonstrable in the blood of Rana tigrina. There occurs prompt lysis of diluted plasma; and the plasma euglobulin fraction shows lysis on both unheated and heated fibrin (human or bovine) plates, implying the presence of plasmin-like enzyme in this fraction. The fibrinolytic activity is remarkably inhibited by the erythrocyte-lysate and is moderately enhanced by leucocytes-thrombocytes. EACA suppresses the lysis of dilute cell-free plasma clots at concentrations of 10(-4) M or more, possibly indicating the presence of plasminogen activator in the plasma. Activation of fibrinolysis by human urokinase and not by streptokinase, shows the probable presence of plasminogen and absence of proactivator.

Fibrinolytic activity of aqueous humor was tested by the Astrup fibrin plate lysis technique in 7 patients who had chronic simple glaucoma and was compared with a control group of 7 patients with senile cataract. The plasminogen activator content of aqueous humour in glaucoma patients was remarkably reduced; it was not demonstrable in as many as six out of seven patients. The lysis zones in the control group ranged from 110 to 900 mm2 with an average of 423 mm2. The want of aqueous fibrinolytic activity may have a pathogenetic implication for glaucoma since deposition of fibrin in the angle of the eye to depressed fibrinolytic activity could increase resistance to aqueous flow.

Studies of 11 patients with haemorrhagic stroke revealed no significant change in kaolin cephalin clotting time, prothrombin time, thrombin time, PF 3 availability, platelet count and factor V and VIII during the first week. Plasma fibrinogen was significantly increased while factors VII + X were decreased (borderline significance). Prolongation of plasma recalcification time and decrease in heparin tolerance reached borderline significance. There was moderate, but significant, increase in serum antithrombin activity and plasma (euglobulin fraction) fibrinolytic activity.

The presence of plasminogen activator in the euglobulin fraction of pigeon plasma, was demonstrated by conspicuous lysis on unheated fibrin plates; human as well as bovine fibrin were susceptible to lysis. The presence of free plasmin in euglobulin fraction was indicated by lysis on heated fibrin plates.