Research Topic: A Study Of Fibrinolysis

Abstract

According to present concepts, the enzyme responsible for the dissolution of fibrin both intra - and extra - vascularly is generated by the action of an “activator” upon the enzyme precursor plasminogen. Plasminogen is a B-globulin, of molecular weight of the order of 143,000, and a normal constituent of human plasma. It is known to possess a high affinity for both fibrin and fibrinogen, a property fundamental to the Sherry hypothesis of the physiological function of plasminogen where any fibrin clot is visualised as having an intrinsic plasminogen content sufficient to ensure its lysis when activated. The activation is achieved by activator either trapped within the clot at the moment of polymerisation, or diffusing subsequently into the clot from the surrounding liquid phase.