ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECT OF LOW-MOLECULAR-WEIGHT HEPARIN ADMINISTRATION ONHEPATIC MITOCHONDRIAL REDOX STATE

The effect of low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) on hepatic mitochond rial metabolism was compared with that of unfractionated heparin (UH) after the intravenous administration of these two kinds of heparin to normal rabbits. The magnitude of decrease in blood triglyceride levels 5 min after administration of UH (200 U/kg) was significantly greater than after LMWH (200 U/kg). Free fatty acid levels in the blood were significantly higher after this dose of UH than after LMWH. Blood tota l ketone body levels (acetoacetate + 3-hydroxybutyrate) 15 min after i njection of 50 U/kg of UH were significantly higher than those after a dose of 50 U/kg of LMWH, and levels after 200 U/kg of UH were signifi cantly higher than those after 200 U/kg of LMWH at 15, 30, 45 and 60 m in. Enhanced ketogenesis was not noted after LMWH at any of the doses, or after UH at 3 U/kg. Arterial ketone body ratio (AKBR; acetoacetate /3-hydroxybutyrate), which reflects the hepatic mitochondrial oxidatio n-reduction state (NAD(+)/NADH), was maintained above 1.0 in all group s except in the U-200 group, while AKBR in that group was significantl y decreased to 0.99 +/- 0.14 at 30 min, and further decreased to 0.80 +/- 0.08 at 60 min. These results indicate that LMWH has less effect o n lipolysis than UH and does not enhance ketogenesis, resulting in les s deterioration of mitochondrial redox state.