Distribution and Excretion of Heparin

Abstract

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.