A histochemical study of fibrinolytic activity and inhibition of plasmin in the lungs of some animal species.

Determined by the histochemical fibrin slide technique, the fibrinolytic activity of lungs decreased in the following order of species: rat, mouse, pig, guinea pig, rabbit, cattle. Examined by the fibrin slide 'sandwich' technique, inhibition of plasmin showed the opposite mode of decrease. The possible role of these differences in the pathogenesis of various disorders of the lungs in the different species is discussed.