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Heparin-released triglyceride lipase from three sources, adipose tissue, liver, and postheparin plasma, was compared. Heparin-released triglyceride lipase from liver differed in several major respects from that in adipose tissue. These differences included response to inhibitors and to high density lipoprotein in the incubation media. Heparin-released triglyceride lipase from liver, when compared with that from adipose tissue, was relatively inactive against lipoprotein substrates. The triglyceride lipase from postheparin plasma exhibited properties more like those of liver. These studies raise the possibility that triglyceride lipase in postheparin plasma may be heterogeneous and that levels of the enzyme in postheparin plasma may not accurately reflect the capacity for clearance of triglyceride from the plasma.