Thromb Haemostasis
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In a rat model of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), we used urokinase (UK) in an attempt to clarify the role of fibrinolysis and to investigate changes in plasma endothelin levels. Two kinds of experiment were performed. The first one: experimental DIC was induced by sustained infusion of 30 mg/kg LPS for 4 h via the tail vein, and two doses of UK (2.0 or 10.0 IU/g/4.5 h) were administered to rats 30 min before infusion of LPS, after which UK infusion was continued for a further 4 h. ⋯ Glomerular fibrin deposition was significantly suppressed in the groups receiving UK when compared with the LPS group. No manifestations of bleeding were observed in any of the groups. Enhanced fibrinolysis and depressed endothelin induced by UK thus appear to play an important role in preventing the development of organ failure in the LPS-induced DIC model.