Endothelial cell seeding of prosthetic vascular grafts: early experimental studies with cultured autologous canine endothelium.
Thirteen adult dogs underwent thoracoabdominal bypass operations with 6-mm, double-velour Dacron grafts 25 to 30 cm long. Experimental grafts were seeded with cultured autologous endothelial cells (n = 7). Unseeded grafts served as controls (n = 6). Endothelial cells were harvested from external jugular vein segments using 0.1% trypsin and 0.5% collagenase solutions. Grafts were studied at weeks 2 and 4. Endothelial cell coverage of experimental graft surfaces after two weeks was 60% to 70%, and approximately 80% after four weeks. Immunofluorescence using factor VIII-related antigen confirmed the graft's inner surface to be endothelium. Endothelial cell coverage in control grafts occurred as pannus ingrowth, and never exceeded more than 10% of the conduit surface. Generation of an early endothelial surface in prosthetic grafts is possible in a canine model using cultured autologous cells.
D000818:Animals; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000166:cytology / Q000601:surgery*; D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004285:Dogs; D004727:Endothelium / Q000166:cytology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D007601:Jugular Veins / Q000166:cytology; D011093:Polyethylene Terephthalates; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013499:Surface Properties; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000517:prevention & control*
D011093:Polyethylene Terephthalates