Acceleration of Fibrin Polymerization by Calcium Ions

Abstract

Abstract Calcium ions are known to accelerate the formation of a visible clot upon the addition of thrombin to plasma or fibrinogen. The experiments described demonstrate that this effect of calcium ions is not upon the rate of release of fibrinopeptides from fibrinogen, but rather upon the aggregation of soluble fibrin monomers or polymers, independent of the action of fibrin-stabilizing factor.