Disseminated intravascular coagulation induced by Liquoid in the rat. II. Effect of heparin on hematologic and complement abnormalities and renal lesions studied by light, fluorescence, and electron microscopy.

A single intravenous injection (12.5 mg.) of Liquoid (polyanethol sulfonate) was given to anticoagulated (heparinized) rats. Fibrinogen concentrations, platelet counts, total serum complement (CH50),C3 protein, and terminal components (C3 to C9) were measured. Histopathology was assessed by light, fluorescence, and electron microscopy. Heparin given before Liquoid remarkably diminished the seferity of the histologic lesions, with good correlation among light, fluorescence, and electron microscopy. Levels of clotting factors, CH50, C3 and C3 to C9, however, were not statistically different in the heparinized rats injected with Liquoid from those of animals receiving Liquoid alone. Actually C3 protein concentration was lower in the anticoagulated (Liquoid-heparin) rats. It is postulated that under the present experimental conditions, heparin did not antagonize the procoagulant and precipitating or complement-activating Liquoid effects. The attenuated histopathology observed was perhaps the result of either local or systemic, as yet undefined, heparin effects other than anticoagulation.