The influence of cryopreservation on changes in diameter and compliance of allografts in an animal experimental model.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to analyze the influence of cryopreservation on changes in diameter and compliance of allografts.


METHODS
Sixty aortic allografts implanted in situ in rats were analyzed. The animals were divided into four groups that received fresh or cryopreserved isogenic (Lewis to Lewis) grafts, or fresh or cryopreserved allogenic (Lewis to DA) grafts, respectively. The diameter and compliance of the grafts were then visually evaluated with the digital video camera recorder after 15, 30, 60, 90 and 120 days.


RESULTS
Gradual increase in diameter and decrease in compliance in case of all allogenic and cryopreserved isogenic grafts were observed. The observed changes in cryopreserved grafts were smaller when compared with fresh grafts, however, the differences did not reach statistical significance.


CONCLUSIONS
Cryo preservation does not protect allografts from stiffening and dilatation.
Department of Vascular Surgery, University of Medical Science, Poznan, Poland. mgabriel@pro.onet.pl
M
M
Gabriel
K
K
Wachal
L
L
Dzieciuchowicz
K
K
Pawlaczyk
Z
Z
Krasiński
G
G
Oszkinis
D000818:Animals; D001012:Aorta, Abdominal / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000637:transplantation; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D003187:Compliance; D015925:Cryopreservation; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000378:metabolism; D008264:Macrophages / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D023421:Models, Animal; D032389:Myocytes, Smooth Muscle / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D017540:Tunica Media / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology