STUDIES ON THE ANTITHROMBOTIC ACTION OF A LOW MOLECULARWEIGHT HEPARIN OBTAINED FROM BEEF MUCOSAL ORIGIN AND PEROXIDATIVE CLEAVAGE

We have studied a low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) obtained by acontrolled peroxidative depolymerization of beef mucosal heparin (OP 2123, Opocrin, Corlo, Italy). This product was found to be significantly different from other LMWHs in that it exhibits the same COO-/SO₂- ratios as unfractionated heparin, contains reducing end groups composed of 2-sulfated iduronic acid or 6-disulfated glucosamine and retains an identical structural integrity as that of native heparin. As opposed to most other LMWHs the oligosaccharide components of OP 2123 consist of homogeneous progressive units. In addition, the relative amount of AT-IIIaffinity components in OP 2123 were 20-30% less than other LMWHs. OP 2123 has a mean molecular weight of 6200 daltons with a potency of 90 anti-factor Xa U/mg and 68 USP U/mg. This agent produced strong antithrombotic actions in a rabbit stasis model against both an activated prothrombin complex and a prothrombin complex concentrate/Russell's viper venomcombination (ED50:(IV) 30-70 ug/kg;(SC) 0.6-1.5 mg/kg). The antithrombotic effects were comparable to other LMWHs in normal rabbits: however, in AT III depleted rabbits (immunodepleted and y thrombin depleted), OP 2123 produced stronger antithrombotic effects than most other LMWHs. The in vitro systems in contrast to other LMWHs, CP 2123 produced stronger inhibitory effects in AT III depleted plasma as measured by fibrinopeptide A generation and amidolytic anti-factor Xa and anti-factor Ila methods. The relative heparin cofactor II activity as measured by amidolytic method was also found to be higher than with most LMWHs. These results suggest that OP 2123, unlike most LMWHs, non AT III mediated actions play a major role in themendiation of the antithrombotic actions.