Effect of heparin on bone formation in cultured fetal rat calvaria

Summary To assess the effects of heparin on bone formation we measured [³H]proline incorporation into collagenase-digestible (CDP) and noncollagen protein (NCP), [³H]thymidine (TdR) incorporation into DNA, and DNA content in 21-day-old fetal rat calvaria cultured in BGJ medium with bovine serum albumin for 24–96 hours. Heparin at 5–125 μg/ml decreased TdR incorporation by 26–51% at 24 and 96 hours. At 96 hours, heparin 5, 25, and 125 μg/ml decreased [³H]proline incorporation into CDP by 41, 48, and 32%, respectively, with no significant change in NCP. To evaluate the possible role of PGE₂ in these inhibitory responses, media PGE₂ concentration was measured and the effects of heparin on CDP labeling and DNA synthesis were tested in the presence of indomethacin, piroxicam, and flurbiprofen to inhibit endogenous prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) production and in the presence of a high concentration (10⁻⁷ M) of exogenous PGE₂. Heparin did not alter PGE₂ production at 24 hours but at 48 hours there was a significant reduction. At 96 hours, indomethacin (10⁻⁶ M) inhibited [³H]proline incorporation into CDP by 38% but had no effect on the labeling of NCP. Heparin had no further significant inhibitory effect in the presence of indomethacin. Piroxicam and flurbiprofen did not alter DNA content and had a smaller inhibitory effect than indomethacin on the labeling of CDP. Moreover, addition of heparin produced a further inhibition of CDP and DNA content and finally, heparin decreased CDP labeling by 71% in the presence of PGE₂. We conclude that heparin has direct inhibitory effects on DNA and collagen synthesis, which could play a role in heparin-induced osteoporosis. The mechanism by which heparin decreases collagen and DNA synthesis appears to be largely unrelated to its effect to decrease PGE₂ production.