Endothelialization of polyurethane vascular prostheses implanted in the dog carotid and femoral artery.
A new type of vascular prosthesis made of polyurethane with a fibrous structure of the wall was implanted in the carotid and/or femoral artery of dogs. The healing process and neo-intima formation after implantation of this type of prosthesis was followed with light- and scanning electron microscopy. A total of 18 prostheses, which had been implanted for 1, 3, 6, 9 or 20 weeks were studied. Endothelial like cells invaded the prosthesis over the anastomoses, starting the first week after implantation. The growth zones advanced steadily, and prostheses measuring 3 cm in length were completely endothelialized by 20 weeks after implantation, a mean growth rate of the endothelial like cells of 0.09 mm/day. Subsequently, fibroblasts and smooth muscle cells grew between the neoendothelial layer and the prosthetic inner surface, forming a new multi-layered neo-intima. Cellular elements of the neo-intima were firmly anchored onto the inner wall of the prosthesis by cells with extending cytoplasmic protrusions between the fibers of the prosthetic wall. Since in this type of fibrous polyurethane prosthesis, endothelial like cells continually grew until a new lining was formed, apparently facilitated by the fibrous structure of the wall, further investigations are indicated for progression toward clinical implantation of this type of prosthesis.
Laboratory for Cellbiology and Histology, University of Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
F
F
Hess
B
B
Braun
C
C
Jerusalem
R
R
van Det
S
S
Steeghs
S
S
Skotnicki
P
P
Grande
D000818:Animals; D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000601:surgery*; D004285:Dogs; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000502:physiology*; D005263:Femoral Artery / Q000601:surgery*; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D011140:Polyurethanes; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D014945:Wound Healing
D011140:Polyurethanes