Differential effects of heparin and low molecular weight heparin on osteoblastogenesis and adipogenesis in vitro

Summary We have previously demonstrated that heparin produces cancellous bone loss in rats due in part to a decrease in the number of osteoblasts lining the trabecular bone surface. In the present study, we use a stromal-derived cell culture system together with measurements of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, to compare the effects of heparin and the low molecular weight heparin (LMWH), Fragmin, on osteoblast differentiation in vitro . In addition, we examined the possibility that both heparin and LMWH can induce adipogenesis in our stromal cell culture system. Both heparin and LMWH were found to produce a statistically significant (P