The fibrinolytic and fibrinogenolytic properties of recombinant pro-urokinase (Rec-pro-UK) and recombinant urokinase (Rec-UK) were compared with those of natural urokinase (Nat-UK) and of tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) in an in vitro system consisting of 125I-labeled autologous plasma clots immersed in plasma of humans, five primate species, dogs, rabbits and pigs. With each of the four plasminogen activators, a dose-dependent clot lysis was observed, the degree of which differed, however, very markedly from one species to the other. At a concentration of 100 IU/ml of urokinase extensive plasma clot lysis was obtained in plasma of man, Macaca mulatta, Macaca fascicularis and Macaca radiata, while the plasma clots of Papio cynocephalus, Papio anubis and rabbit, dog and pig were much more resistant to lysis. No significant differences in the extent of lysis were observed between Rec-pro-UK and Rec-UK nor between Rec-UK and Nat-UK. Comparable degrees of lysis were obtained with t-PA at 3- to 5-fold lower concentrations. Lysis with Rec-UK or Nat-UK was always associated with extensive activation of the fibrinolytic system in plasma, evidenced by fibrinogen breakdown and plasminogen activation and alpha 2-antiplasmin consumption. With t-PA, extensive clot lysis was obtained in the absence of fibrinolytic activation in the plasma. With Rec-pro-UK the response was intermediate; at high concentrations (200 IU/ml) extensive lysis in the reactive species was associated with fibrinogen consumption, while at intermediate concentrations (50-100 IU/ml) significant clot lysis was obtained in the reactive species in the absence of marked activation of the fibrinolytic system in the plasma.