title: The effect of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid on calcific degeneration in bovine pericardium.
abstract: Calcification is the most frequent cause of the clinical failure of bovine pericardium bioprosthetic valves, preventing their widespread application for surgical treatment. The aim of this study was to minimize calcific degeneration in bovine pericardium by using a chelating agent, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA). Freshly excised bovine pericardium was dissected free from adhering fat tissue and cut into 1-cm(2) pieces that were rinsed in phosphate-buffered saline solution (PBS) and transferred into 4 degrees C PBS containing 1% glutaraldehyde (GA) for initial fixation, then allocated into two groups. Group I received the same treatment in a fresh solution for 5 more days. Group II underwent an additional fixation step in PBS solution (pH 7.4, 37 degrees C) containing 11% EDTA for a period of 48 h (30 ml/g tissue) and was then transferred into freshly prepared PBS + 1% GA solution at 37 degrees C for another 3 days. To investigate the calcification rate, pericardial patches were inserted into the dorsal pouches of 25 male Wistar rats for 21 days. Calcium levels were measured with an atomic absorption spectrophotometer and examined histo-pathologically. The calcium content of EDTA-treated pericardium (Group II), 21 +/- 3.8 microg/mg, was significantly lower than that of Group I, 43.3 +/- 9.2 microg/mg. Assessment of the degree of calcification in the histological sections generally agreed well with the results of the chemical analyses. Calcium deposition in Group I samples were found to be solid mineral depositions, whereas in the Group II pericardial samples, only smaller traces of calcium were found. Calcific degeneration in bovine pericardium can be reduced by using chelates such as EDTA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Mersin University School of Medicine, Mersin, Turkey. nehirsucu@superonline.com
authors.forename: Nehir
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sucu
authors.forename: Lulufer
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tamer
authors.forename: H Ali
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Dondas
authors.forename: Ayse
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Polat
authors.forename: Barlas
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Aytacoglu
authors.forename: M Y Burak
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Cimen
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gul
authors.forename: Murat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dikmengil
authors.forename: Ugur
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Atik
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001705:Bioprosthesis; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002130:Calcium Phosphates / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D002417:Cattle; D002614:Chelating Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004492:Edetic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D010496:Pericardium / Q000187:drug effects*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D002130:Calcium Phosphates; D002614:Chelating Agents; C020243:calcium phosphate; D004492:Edetic Acid