Glomerular fibrinolytic activity following endotoxin-induced glomerular fibrin deposition in the pregnant rat.

The effect of endotoxin on glomerular fibrinolysis in pregnant and nonpregnant rats was studied using a fibrin slide technic. Glomerular fibrinolytic activity was present and light microscopy was normal following endotoxin or saline injection in nonpregnant rats. In pregnant rats, fibrin was regularly detected within glomerular capillaries 2 hours following administration of endotoxin but was completely removed within 48 hours. Glomerular fibrinolytic activity was present throughout this time interval. These studies suggest that glomerular fibrinolytic activity plays an important role in the removal of glomerular fibrin.