Distribution and Excretion of Heparin

Abstract

Summary

Heparin S³⁵ was extracted from the liver of dogs administered inorganic Na₂S³⁵O₄. Distribution of this heparin was determined in rats. The mast cells were found to take up injected heparin S³⁵, and radioactivity persisted in liver and spleen after virtual disappearance from plasma. Anticoagulant activity was found to parallel isotope activity of the plasma of dogs injected with heparin S³⁵. Urinary excretion in dogs accounted for only about 20% of the injected isotope at a time when plasma anticoagulant activity had returned to normal.