A system of dual perfusion of an isolated lobule of term human placenta was used as a model to study the transfer of heparin from maternal to foetal circulation. The metabolic viability of the system was assessed by measuring beta-HCG and alkaline phosphatase levels in both maternal and foetal perfusates. Creatinine and antipyrine were used as markers to determine juxtaposition of the maternal and foetal circulations. Results of this study indicate that following administration of a single bolus dose of heparin into the maternal circulation, its concentration declined slowly from 99.01 +/- 2.98 at 15 min to 97.23 +/- 4.12% and transfer of heparin in the foetal circulation was linear and increased from 0.10% +/- 0.05% at 15 min to 0.46 +/- 0.19% over a period of 120 min. The maternal (MAUC) and foetal (FAUC) concentration-time integrals were found to be 70160 +/- 1332 and 340 +/- 30 int. units min mL-1, respectively. Placental permeability of heparin and creatinine, calculated as the ratio of foetal concentration to the integral maternal-foetal concentration difference, was 8.65 x 10(-5) +/- 0.80 x 10(-5) and 0.033 +/- 0.006 mL min-1 g-1 of perfused placental weight, respectively. These data suggest that heparin was transferred from the maternal to the foetal circulation in small quantities.