Plasminogen activators and urokinase inhibitors in the lungs of foetuses and newborns.

Abstract

The concentrations of plasminogen activators and urokinase inhibitors were determined in histological sections of 87 foetuses and newborns. It was found that urokinase inhibitors are a constant component of lung tissue in foetuses in the 2nd and 3rd trimesters of pregnancy and in newborns. With progressing maturation of foetuses the concentration of urokinase inhibitors diminishes and, as a rule, the concentration of inhibitors is scores of times higher than that of activators.