THE EXTRACTABLE HEPARIN IN DIFFERENT ANIMAL TISSUE

Abstract

Heparin is extracted from tissue by 0.5 [image] potassium thiocyanate. The protein is removed from the extract with 80% phenol and the heparin precipitated from the aqueous layer with 3 volumes of 95% ethanol. Further purification is achieved by reprecipitating the heparin with alcohol, dissolving the precipitate in saline, and precipitating it with 5% benzidine hydrochloride. The amount of heparin extractable by this method was determined in a variety of tissues from rabbit, dog, beef, monkey, and man. The amounts expressed in units per 100 g of tissue varied from less than 4 units in the rabbit intestine to 4800 units in the liver of a hypophysectomized dog. Radioactive heparin was obtained from dog liver 48 hours after the animal had been fed S35 contained in hydrolyzed yeast. The significance of these findings in relation to further studies on the physiological role of heparin is considered.Auth. abst.