ON THE ORIGIN OF HEPARIN

Abstract

1. The spontaneous mast cell tumor of the dog contains heparin. 2. The cytoplasmic particulate content of the tumor mast cells varies with their anaplasia. This conclusion is based on the following findings: (a) in the immature cell of the more malignant tumor the particulate matter appeared in the living cells by phase microscopy to be composed of greyish illdefined particles or as a fine, weakly metachromatic granulation in the fixed and stained preparation; (b) in the mature cells of a relatively benign mast cell tumor, both in the living cell and in stained preparations, the particulate matter occurred in the form of discrete, dense, and strongly metachromatic granules, resembling those of the normal mast cell. 3. The heparin content was large (fifty times that of dog liver) in the growth with mature cells and only moderate (1.7 times) in that with immature cells. 4. Since there may be a great amount of greyish particulate matter (or fine stained granules) in a tumor of relatively low heparin content, it is suggested that this material represents an early or precursor phase in the development of heparin. 5. This possibility and the fact that the blood stream may be invaded by mature tumor mast cells of large heparin content without evident disturbance in the coagulability of the blood suggest the value of a comprehensive biochemical study of the heparin of mast cell tumors.