Effect of acute heparin administration on glycocalyx thickness and endothelial function in healthy younger adults

Colin J Gimblet; Jackson W Ernst; Kyle D Bos; Amy K Stroud; Anthony J Donato; Diana I Jalal; Gary L Pierce

doi:10.1152/japplphysiol.00767.2023

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Effect of acute heparin administration on glycocalyx thickness and endothelial function in healthy younger adults

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Effect of acute heparin administration on glycocalyx thickness and endothelial function in healthy younger adults

Colin J Gimblet, Jackson W Ernst, Kyle D Bos, Amy K Stroud, Anthony J Donato, Diana I Jalal and Gary L Pierce

Journal of applied physiology (1985), Vol.136(2), pp.330-336

02/01/2024

DOI: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00767.2023

PMCID: PMC11212829

PMID: 38126088

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https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/11212829View

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Abstract

The endothelial glycocalyx is a dynamic, gel like layer that is critical to normal vascular endothelial function. Heparin impairs the endothelial glycocalyx and reduces vascular endothelial function in a murine model, however this has yet to be tested in healthy humans. We hypothesized that a single bolus dose of heparin would increase circulating glycocalyx components and decrease endothelial glycocalyx thickness resulting in blunted brachial artery vasodilation in healthy younger adults. Healthy adults (n=19, aged 18-39 years, 47% female) underwent measurements of the endothelial glycocalyx and vascular endothelial function at baseline and after a single bolus 5000U dose of heparin. The glycocalyx components syndecan-1 and heparan sulfate were measured from plasma samples using enzyme linked immunosorbent assays. Glycocalyx thickness was determined as perfused boundary region (PBR) in sublingual microvessels using the GlycoCheck. Endothelial function was measured via ultrasonography and quantified as brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD). Following acute heparin administration, there was no increase in syndecan-1 or heparan sulfate (P=0.90 & P=0.49, respectively). Additionally, there was no change in PBR 4-7µm (P=0.55), PBR 10-25µm (P=0.63), or 4-25µm (P=0.49) after heparin treatment. Furthermore, we did not observe a change in FMDmm (P=0.23), FMD% (P=0.35) or plasma nitrite concentrations (P=0.10) in response to heparin. Finally, time to peak dilation and peak FMD normalized to shear stress were unchanged following heparin (P=0.59 & P=0.21, respectively). Our pilot study suggests that a single bolus intravenous dose of heparin does not result in endothelial glycocalyx degradation or vascular endothelial dysfunction in healthy younger adults.

Endothelial Function

Glycocalyx

Heparin

Details

Title: Subtitle: Effect of acute heparin administration on glycocalyx thickness and endothelial function in healthy younger adults
Creators: Colin J Gimblet - University of Iowa
Jackson W Ernst - University of Iowa
Kyle D Bos - Department of Health and Human Physiology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, United States
Amy K Stroud - University of Iowa
Anthony J Donato - University of Utah
Diana I Jalal - University of Iowa
Gary L Pierce - University of Iowa
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Journal of applied physiology (1985), Vol.136(2), pp.330-336
DOI: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00767.2023
PMID: 38126088
PMCID: PMC11212829
NLM abbreviation: J Appl Physiol (1985)
eISSN: 1522-1601
Grant note: Russel B Day and Florence D Day Endowed Chair in Liberal Arts and Sciences fund at the University of Iowa 23PRE1012593 / American Heart Association (AHA)
Language: English
Electronic publication date: 12/21/2023
Date published: 02/01/2024
Academic Unit: Nephrology; Health, Sport, and Human Physiology ; Internal Medicine
Record Identifier: 9984532173802771

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