Heparin-released lipolytic and esterolytic activities of human and rabbit plasmas

¹ Department of Physiology, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, Missouri

The enzymes released into both human and rabbit plasmas by heparin injection hydrolyzed, in addition to triglyceride moieties of lipoproteins, a number of mono- and diglycerides of C₁₆ and C₁₈ fatty acids after in vitro addition of the unemulsified glycerides to the plasma. In human postheparin plasma, these enzymes also hydrolyzed glycerides of butyric and caproic acids. The pure triglycerides and methyl or ethyl esters of C₁₆ and C₁₈ fatty acids were not substrates. The heparin-released activities for the hydrolysis of glycerides added in vitro persisted after all activity for the lipolysis of lipoproteins had been destroyed by heat. These activities also differed from lipoprotein lipase activity with respect to the effects of 1 m NaCl, dialysis, and aging the plasma at 4 C. It appears that heparin releases into the blood more than one enzyme or more than one form of an enzyme which may be involved in a stepwise degradation to fatty acids and glycerol of the triglyceride moieties of lipoproteins of density less than 1.007 g/ml.