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Updated: Aug 4, 2026

Experimental and Imaging Techniques for Examining Fibrin Clot Structures in Normal and Diseased States
Published on: April 1, 2015
[The effects of divalent cations on the fibrin clot formation and its lysis]
Abstract:
Hemocoagulation is a Ca(2+)-dependent process, and we suppose that other bivalent cations (BC) can also influence this system. The effects of some BC (Ca2+, Fe2+, Zn2+, Cd2+, Co2+ and Ni2+) on thrombin-induced plasma clotting and clot lysis caused by streptokinase have been studied. All BC studied, except Fe2+, maintained the formation of fibrin clot followed by its lysis. In the presence of BC the coagulation part of the turbidimetry curve changed in a dose-dependen manner and was characterized by: (1) the decrease of the induction period which seems to be due to thrombin activation or accelerating fibrin self-association; (2) the elevation of the maximal optical density of the fibrin clot and the velocity of its achievement. The fibrinolytic part of the curve was characterized by the optical density downfall acceleration at low Co2+, Cd2+, Zn2+ and Ni2+ concentrations but marked delay of the process at BC higher concentrations. So, ions of Co2+, Cd2+, Zn2+ and Ni2+ but not Fe2+ significantly influence the dynamics of thrombin-induced clot formation and optical clot characteristics. At different ion concentrations BC may activate or inhibit fibrinolysis.
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