The role of plasminogen activator in ovulation.

The role of plasminogen activator in ovulation was investigated using the inhibitor, trans-aminomethylcyclohexane carboxylic acid (t-AMCHA). In the regular cycle rat, the plasminogen activator activity of the follicles increased from the diestrus to the estrus phase. In the latter phase, a proteolytic enzyme which was not inhibited by t-AMCHA appeared. After ovulation, the plasminogen activator activity decreased. When ovulation was induced in immature rats by pregnant mare serum gonadotrophin and human chorionic gonadotrophin, remarkable fibrinolytic activity appeared in the ovaries immediately before ovulation. When t-AMCHA was given in the ovulation-induced rats, the fibrinolytic activity of the ovaries was suppressed, the number of ovulated ova decreased and the timing of ovulation was delayed. When t-AMCHA solution was given to rats in the proestrus phase, ovulation was almost completely suppressed, but aprotinin solution exerted no effect on ovulation. These results suggest that plasminogen activator is a key enzyme in ovulation, and that the chain reaction from plasminogen activator to proteolytic enzyme (including collagenase) is of greater importance than that of plasminogen activator to plasmin.