Heparin enhances angiogenesis by a systemic mode of action.

A systemically-administered standard sodium heparin, but not an oligosaccharide fraction derived from the heparin, significantly potentiated angiogenesis induced by saline in normal rats, as assessed by the quantitative mesenteric window angiogenesis assay. This is the first unambiguous evidence that any single specific mast-cell product can potentiate angiogenesis in normally vascularized mammalian tissue. Whether systemic treatment with a heparin-like substance may be useful for stimulating neoangiogenic formation of collaterals in situations of relative microvascular insufficiency, such as coronary collaterals in patients suffering from ischaemic heart disease, is briefly discussed.