Heparin Metabolism: Isolation and Characterization of Uroheparin

Abstract

THE naturally occurring mucopolysaccharides (MPS) of mammals include the chondroitin sulphates, hyaluronic acid, heparitin sulphate, keratosulphate, chondroitin, and heparin. Most are located extracellularly, primarily in connective tissue. Only heparin is stored intracellularly, chiefly in mast cells and basophils. Little is known of its metabolism in humans, although rat tissues rapidly take it up after injection¹. Although in dogs small amounts of circulating heparin bound to protein have been reported², circulating extracellular heparin has not been demonstrated in humans and several attempts to detect heparin excretion in normal human urine have so far been unsuccessful.