Qualitative and quantitative distribution of plasminogen activators in organs from healthy adult mice

Twenty organs from healthy adult mice were tested for plasminogen activator activity. All were positive although specific activities varied 200-fold. Tissues with high activity were lung, uterus, brain and kidney. Endocrine glands were moderately rich in activator activity, and lymphoid tissues were poor. Molecular mass characterization was carried out. Two enzymatic forms were observed in all twenty organs: a 70 kDa form similar to human tissue plasminogen activator and a 48 kDa form analogous to mouse urokinase.