Tissue Localization of Fibrin Degradation Products.
Tissue distribution of fibrin degradation products (FOP’s) during disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is still largely unknown, since present immunohistochemical methods cannot discriminate between FDP’s and other fibrin-related material. Using tissue from rats with thrombin-induced DIC, we developed an immunoenzymehistochernical method for specific FDP-localization. This method is based on the following observations:1. FDP’s are - in contrast to fibrin - retained in ethanol-fixed tissue only; however, not in formaldehyde-fixed tissue;2, FDP’s in tissue will react with some of the antisera employed only (antisera against rat fibrinogen, FDP-D and E, and the constituent chains of fibrinogen were tested), whereas fibrinogen and fibrin will react with all said antisera.At 20-30 min after thrombin injection, FDP’s were found in the epithelial cells of kidney proximal tubules. These FDP’s were demonstrated with anti-chain antisera, though not with antisera against 0 or E, and are presumably early FDP’s derived from the α-and β-chain. Later (at 40-120 min), FDP’s were found in liver macrophages. These FDP’s proved unreactive to anti-chain antisera, but were demonstrated by anti-D or E antisera, A similar localization of FDP’s was found in human autopsy material in cases of DIC.