Normal and low molecular weight heparins: interaction with human platelets

Abstract. Porcine mucosal heparin was chemically depolymerized. The depolymerization was stopped at different steps to obtain two low molecular weight (LMW) heparins with a molecular weight of 10 000 and 6000, respectively. The LMW heparins were tested in vitro for anti-clotting activities and for platelet serotonin release in different systems in comparison with normal heparins, dermatan and heparan sulphate. After addition of various amounts of heparin preparations to washed platelets, no significant release was observed for all tested heparins. On the contrary, different heparins showed an inhibition of serotonin-release induced by collagen in platelet rich plasma, whereas the ADP-induced release was increased. The effect on the platelet release appears related to the molecular weight. In fact, it is significant only for normal heparins whereas it is not for LMW heparins. A good relation was observed, also, between anti-activated factor X activity/antiglobal clotting activity (Xa/APTT) ratio of different heparins and the effect on platelet release.