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An Inhibitor of Fibrin Formation in Thromboplastins Prepared by Saline Extraction of Human Brain
Author(s) -
Duncan B. McL.,
Lloyd J. V.
Publication year - 1978
Publication title -
british journal of haematology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.907
H-Index - 186
eISSN - 1365-2141
pISSN - 0007-1048
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2141.1978.tb01080.x
Subject(s) - thromboplastin , fibrin , saline , fibrinogen , tissue factor , chemistry , partial thromboplastin time , chromatography , prothrombin time , thrombin , coagulation , biochemistry , medicine , surgery , anesthesia , immunology , platelet
Human brain is a common source of thromboplastin for the prothrombin time, where the end point is the conversion of fibrinogen to fibrin. Experiments showed that human brain also contains a proteolipid which inhibits the conversion of fibrinogen to fibrin. The proteolipid is removed when brain tissue is washed with acetone, but remains as a contaminant when brain is extracted with saline. For this reason prothrombin times on the same plasma are longer when saline extracts, rather than acetone dried preparations, are the source of thromboplastin. The proteolipid explains why the prothrombin time becomes shorter when saline extracts are diluted to standardize their activity against the British comparative thromboplastin.