Date of Award

11-1953

Document Type

Thesis - Restricted

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Biological Sciences

First Advisor

Armand J. Quick

Second Advisor

M. Laskowski

Third Advisor

Scott L. Kittsley

Abstract

Plasma contains three major proteins: albumin, globulin, and fibrinogen. Even though fibrinogen, which is also present in other body fluids such as lymph, is found in smaller concentrations than the other two, it possesses many important properties, such as regulation of the viscosity in blood, and its convertability to insoluble fibrin when the enzyme thrombin acts on it. Fibrin was recognized in 'l666 by Malpighi when he noticed that a mass of white fibers remains when clotted blood is washed. Ruysch, in 1707, noticed a similar mass of white fibers by whipping the blood. In 1859, Dennis precipitated plasma, rendered incoagulable by the addition of one seventh of its volume of sodium sulfate, by saturating it with sodium chloride. He dissolved the precipitated gelatinous mass in water and noted that it coagulated at room temperature forming fibrin and leaving a protein in solution, thereby showing that fibrin came from a soluble protein in plasma. Alexander Schmidt, in 1861. - 1862, passed carbon dioxide through diluted plasma and noticed the formation of two protein precipitates which he named fibrinogen and paraglobulin. The first., however, to clearly state the mechanism of the formation of fibrin when blood clotted was. Hammarsten, 1877 - 1879, who concluded that coagulation is brought about by the action of thrombin on fibrinogen.

Share

COinS

Restricted Access Item

Having trouble?