[Electron microscopic study of postmortem fibrinolysis]

The blood of patients dying suddenly possess the capacity of coagulation in vitro and then of transforming spontaneously into a liquid state, this being explained by the post-mortem fibrinolysis. Electron microscopic examination of this process allowed one to follow the dynamics of structural changes in the postmortem coagulates in the course of their spontaneous lysis and retraction in vitro. It is established that the main morphological criterion of the coagulates lysis is the destruction of fibrin fibrils and their degradation into the globular particles. Polynuclear leucocytes play an important role in the lysis of coagulates; they not only phagocytized the aggregated platelets and fibrin but seemed to release specific fibrinolytic factors into the coagulates. In the coagulates undergoing retraction, as distinct from those undergoing lysis, the destruction of platelet aggregates, strengthening and densening of the fibrin network are noted.