Parotid saliva from 10 healthy volunteers was collected at rest and at constant flow rates of 0.25, 0.5 and 1.0 ml/min, and its tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) activity assayed on fibrin plates containing plasminogen. In unstimulated salivas the median tPA activity was 0.26 (range 0.03-2.0) IU/ml. During the first 15 min of stimulation, a continuous decrease in tPA activity was found at the three flow rates; thereafter a steady state was obtained. No significant differences in activity were found between the three rates. The initial decrease was on average 0.15 IU/ml, and the activity during the steady state was 38% of the prestimulatory level. Thus, stimulation with citric acid causes a significant decrease in tPA activity of parotid saliva but this decrease, as well as the reduction rate, appears to be independent of flow rate.