Summary
Although the inhibitory action of Polybrene and heparin on blood coagulation in vitro
is inversely proportional to the number of platelets present, the reason for this
in each case is different. Whereas heparin is counteracted by a substance present
in platelets, the platelet factor 4, Polybrene is partially neutralized by adsorption
onto the surface of the platelets.
Under similar conditions Polybrene is adsorbed by erythrocytes while heparin is not.
Platelet factor 4 not only is not anti-Polybrene but, like Polybrene, is also inhibitory
in the intermediate product I formation test so that the two together have a greater
inhibitory action than either one alone.