The effect of thorotrast and cortisone on renal cortical fibrinolytic activity in the rabbit.

Previous studies have shown that a single injection of endotoxin inhibits renal cortical fibrinolytic activity in the rabbit. This suggests that the initial injection of endotoxin may prepare for the generalized Shwartzman reaction by depletion of cortical fibrinolytic activity. A fibrin slide technic was used to determine whether Thorotrast(R) and cortisone prepare for the generalized Schwartzman reaction by a similar mechanism. Renal cortical fibrinolytic activity was inhibited following Thorotrast injection, but no inhibition could be detected following cortisone injection. This suggests that Thorotrast, like endotoxin, prepares for the generalized Shwartzman reaction by depletion of cortical fibrinolytic activity. Failure to demonstrate inhibition of lytic activity following cortisone injection may indicate that cortisone prepares for the generalized Shwartzman reaction by another mechanism, or that the fibrin slide technic was unable to detect quantitative changes in lytic activity.