Updating on in-vivo and in-vitro effects of heparin and other glycosaminoglycans (mesoglycan) on arterial endothelium: a morphometric study

Glycosaminoglycans, which include heparin, heparansulfate and dermatansulfate, are substances that exhibit many significant biological activities. In-vitro and in-vivo experiments for studying the effects of heparin and an association of heparan-like glycosaminoglycan and dermatansolfate (mesoglycan) on aortic arterial endothelium were performed. The studies were developed by means of computerized morphometric techniques. The in-vitro tests, performed on bovine aortic endothelial cells, have revealed an increase in survival rate, enhancement of cell density at confluence, and increase of nucleus/cytoplasm ratio, after "in-vitro" administration of heparin or mesoglycan. The in-vivo tests have revealed a minor development of aortic intimal lipid deposition in mesoglycan-treated hypercholesterolaemic rabbits. Our morphometrical results confirmed by statistical tests strongly support the data collected in the literature over many years on the protective effects of mesoglycan and heparin on endothelium.