Tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA) is the main plasminogen activator associated with isolated rat nerve growth cones.

Different studies in tissue culture have shown the involvement of plasminogen activators (PAs) in nerve growth-cone migration. We have studied PA activity associated with isolated rat brain growth cones. Fibrin-agarose zymographies show that tissue-type PA (tPA) is the main PA associated with these structures. After fractionation of growth cones, a slightly higher tPA activity was found associated with the particulate fraction. The present findings support the requirement of this protease for neurite growth.