ROLE OF PORTAL-HYPERTENSION ON TISSUE-PLA SMINOGEN ACTIVATOR (T-PA) RELEASE - EXPERIMENTAL-STUDY IN THE RAT

Tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) activity was studied in three diff erents experimental models of male Wistar rats; hepatic lesion whithou t portal hypertension, portal hypertension without hepatic lesion and portal hypertension plus fraction liver supression by ligation of both portal vein and hepatic artery. t-PA activity was higher in animals w ith portal hypertension alone than in animals with only hepatic lesion (146%). Maximal values were present in animals whit functional liver suppresion (1.774% vs. controls, 248% vs. hepatic lesion and 169% vs. portal hypertension only). These results suggest that both reduced hep atic t-PA clearance and portal hypertension could be involved in the i ncreased t-PA activity normally appearing in chronic liver disease.