| Abstract: | Heparin has been shown to ameliorateinflammatory bowel disease in several series. Inaddition to its anticoagulant properties, heparin hasnumerous other effects that may be beneficial ininflammatory bowel disease. Other sulfated polysaccharides,such as dextran sulfate, cause colitis in mice throughunknown mechanisms. We postulate that dextran sulfateand heparin may act via similar pathways with opposite effects. To examine this thesis, theeffect of heparin on dextran sulfate-induced colitis wasstudied. Swiss-Webster mice were given 5% dextransulfate in their drinking water for five days to induce colitis. Heparin was given boththerapeutically after the induction of colitis andprophylactically by subcutaneous injections, with salineinjections given in controls. Histologic sections ofcolon were randomized and graded for colitis.Heparinized animals showed no significant difference inthe pattern or severity of colitis when compared tocontrol animals. It is concluded that heparin does not ameliorate the murine colitis induced bydextran sulfate in the doses given. |
