Protective effects of heparin and other sulfated glycosaminoglycans on crystal adhesion to injured urothelium.

Heparin was found to prevent calcium oxalate crystal adhesion to chemically injured rat bladder urothelium. Heparin was the only polysaccharide tested which restored injured urothelium to the functional status of normal, uninjured urothelium with respect to anticrystal adhesion properties. Other sulfated glycosaminoglycans, sulfated polysaccharides and monosaccharides were without restorative or protective effects. 3H-heparin was found to bind to injured urothelium but not to normal urothelium.