The authors compared the ability of a single dose of the proenzyme single-chain urokinase (scuPA), low-molecular-weight urokinase, tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), or a mutant site-inactive scuPA to resolve intrapleural loculations at 72 to 96 hours after tetracycline-induced pleural injury in rabbits. Both scuPA and tPA reversed loculations at 96 hours after injury P < or = .001, whereas low-molecular-weight urokinase and the scuPA mutant were ineffective. scuPA and tPA generated inhibitor complexes, induced fibrinolytic activity, and quenched plasminogen activator-1 activity in pleural fluids. The authors conclude that scuPA reverses loculations as effectively as tPA at clinically applied intrapleural doses, whereas low-molecular-weight urokinase was ineffective.