In vivo and in vitro release of lipoprotein lipase and hepatic lipase by low molecular weight heparins.

The purpose of this study was to compare lipoprotein lipase (LPL) and hepatic lipase (HL) releasing activities of different low molecular weight heparins (LMWH) and of a standard heparin. In vivo, the injection of most LMWH led to a LPL and HL releasing activity inferior to that obtained with a standard heparin. The releasing of LPL by muscle in vitro and of HL by perfused liver was identical with both types of heparins, but in epididymal adipose tissue, LPL activity released by LMWH was generally higher than the activity released by unfractionated heparin. We have no explanation for this apparent contradiction between the in vivo and in vitro results.