The effect of dexamethasone on tissue fibrinolytic system in male and female rats

Abstract

Background: Dexamethasone in low and high doses affects blood fibrinolytic activity both in animals and humans. In this study the effect of a high dose of dexamethasone on plasminogen activator activity (PAA), t-PA antigen level, plasminogen activator inhibition (PAI) and plasmin inhibition (Pl) in rat heal?, brain, liver, lungs and kidneys was investigated in both sexes. Materials and Methods: Twenty male and twenty female adult Wistar rats were used. Dexamethasone was administered as a single intraperitoneal injection (3mg/kg/day) in rats, once daily, for a period of 5 consecutive days. t-PA antigen level was assayed by an enzyme-linked immunoabsorbant assay method PAA, PAI and PI were determined by spectrophotometric methods. The plasminogen used was isolated from I at plasma. Results: Dexamethasone induced variable changes in the fibrinolytic parameters in mt heart, brain and liver of both sexes; in lungs and kidneys dexamethasone had no effect. Conclusion: These changes of PAA, PAI and t-PA antigen level in heart, brain and liver induced by dexamethasone might be of importance regarding the involvement of glucocorticoids and plasminogen activators/plasmin in many pathophysiological conditions.