Desulphation of heparin by mice and guinea pig leukocytes.

Leukocytes from mice and guinea pigs were tested for their sulphate-splitting activity on heparin. Mouse macrophages showed the highest degrading activity while mouse neutrophils and lymphocytes showed only a week degrading activity. Mouse macrophages maintained in tissue culture were also found to degrade heparin, the amount of sulphate released increasing with time up to 96 h. Spleen extracts were found to neutralize the anticoagulatory activity of heparin.