Effects of surface seeding with vital cells on the calcium uptake of biological materials for heart valve replacement.
OBJECTIVE
Up to 35% of bioprosthetic heart valves need to be replaced during the first decade after implantation because of tissue degeneration or calcification. The aim of the studies was to evaluate the influence of surface seeding with viable cells on the calcium uptake of biomaterials.


METHODS
Samples of glutaraldehyde tanned bovine pericardium (GBP, n = 52) or porcine valves (GPV, n = 50), or glycerol treated bovine pericardium (GlyBP, n = 35), which had either been rinsed with saline (GBP, n = 30; GPV, n = 26; GlyBP, n = 18) or seeded with rat fibrocytes (GBP, n = 22; GPV, n = 24; GlyBP, n = 17) were incubated with cell culture medium containing physiologic levels of calcium. Similarly treated material was implanted into the abdominal muscles of 88 rats (seeded: GBP, n = 16; GPV, n = 16; GlyBP, n = 14; non-seeded: GBP, n = 6; GPV, n = 8; GlyBP, n = 7). The specimens were analyzed two and four weeks later for their calcium content.


RESULTS
Over time untreated GBP and GlyBP calcified in vitro and in vivo while GPV retained low calcium levels in vivo. Surface seeding with rat fibrocytes significantly reduced the calcium accumulation in GBP and GlyBP in vitro and in vivo (p < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Seeding with viable cells might be a promising method of reducing calcium accumulation in bovine pericardial implants.
Dahm
M
M
Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, University Hospital Mainz, Germany.
Prüfer
D
D
Mayer
E
E
Hafner
G
G
Groh
E
E
Oelert
H
H
D000818:Animals; D001705:Bioprosthesis; D002114:Calcinosis; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D002470:Cell Survival; D005347:Fibroblasts; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D013054:Spectrophotometry, Atomic
D002118:Calcium