Effect of intrapulmonary heparin on plasma diamine oxidase (histaminase) activity in mice.

Heparin releases diamine oxidase (DAO, histaminase) from binding sites in the intestinal vasculature. Histamine is involved in a number of pathological lesions. In this study we have examined the effect of intrapulmonary administration of heparin on plasma DAO activity in mice. For comparative purposes the same parameter was measured following the administration of an intravenous heparin regimen. The time course and dose-response were examined with the two heparin regimens. The doses of heparin were based on appropriate clinical equivalents. Both heparin regimens showed a dose dependent response (correlation coefficient r = 0.9). The dose of intrapulmonary heparin (10 mg/kg) was 12 times greater than the dose injected intravenously but the DAO response lasted 48 times longer that that obtained from the intravenous heparin regimen.