title: Plasminogen, alpha(2)-antiplasmin and complexes of plasmin-alpha(2)-antiplasmin (PAP) in amniotic fluid and blood plasma of parturient women.
abstract: The aim of the present study was to determine whether the following components of the fibrinolytic system are present in amniotic fluid: plasminogen, plasmin and alpha(2)-antiplasmin, and plasmin-alpha(2)-antiplasmin (PAP) complexes. The study group consisted of 30 healthy women giving birth at term; 10 nonpregnant women constituted a control group. Plasminogen and alpha(2)-antiplasmin were studied by using an amidolytic method, and PAP by an ELISA method. The levels of plasminogen and alpha(2)-antiplasmin in amniotic fluid are low, 1.57+/-0.82 and 6.80+/-3.09%, respectively, of the values in blood plasma. The PAP concentration in amniotic fluid (70.61+/-14.28 microg/l) was also lower than in blood plasma (247.19+/-111.39 microg/l). We concluded that in amniotic fluid plasminogen and alpha(2)-antiplasmin are present, but at a concentration lower than in plasma. The presence of PAP in amniotic fluid is an evidence of two processes in the amniotic cavity: (i) plasmin generation, and (ii) plasmin inactivation by alpha(2)-antiplasmin.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Propedeutics, Ludwik Rydygier Medical University ul. M. Curie-Sklodowskiej 9, 85 067 Bydgoszcz, Poland.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Uszynski
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Klyszejko
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Zekanowska
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000653:Amniotic Fluid / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D005341:Fibrinolysin / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D010958:Plasminogen / Q000032:analysis*; D049590:Postpartum Period / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy; D000979:alpha-2-Antiplasmin / Q000032:analysis*; D000511:alpha-Macroglobulins / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D000979:alpha-2-Antiplasmin; D000511:alpha-Macroglobulins; C024668:plasmin-alpha(2)-macroglobulin complex; D010958:Plasminogen; D005341:Fibrinolysin