Effect of alpha-receptor blockade on the rate of fibrin elimination from the rat lung.

In rats with pharmacologically blocked alpha-receptor sites intravascular coagulation was induced by an intravenous injection of thrombin. The fibrin elimination from the lungs was greatly delayed in rats treated with the alpha-receptor blocking agent phenoxybenzamine one hour before the thrombin injection; whereas, in rats given the same substance 48 hours before this injection, no influence on fibrin elimination was seen. Infusion of albumin counteracted the effect on fibrin elimination in the former rats. A synergistic effect of phenoxybenzamine and the fibrinolysis inhibitor AMCA on the elimination of fibrin from the lungs was found. Circulatory mechanisms seem most reasonably to underlie the effect of phenoxybenzamine on fibrin elimination. No changes in fibrinolysis parameters were observed.