A novel method for long-lasting preservation of arterial grafts.
BACKGROUND
Autologous venous grafts generally give best results for arterial bypass grafting in cases of arterial stenosis. When no suitable venous graft can be found, synthetic prosthetic graft may be an alternative. Prostheses are easily accessible but susceptible to infection. In these cases, the replacement of infected prosthesis by the human arterial allograft is the best treatment option. The question arises whether we could prepare a graft meeting mechanical conditions of an artery immunologically inert and resistant to bacterial infection.


METHODS
LEW and BN rat aortic segments were placed in dehydrated sodium chloride and stored for 1 to 12 mo. Then, they were transplanted orthotopically as aortic grafts for 3 to 15 mo in syngenic and allogenic combination. No immunosuppression was used. Patency, pulsation, and frequency of development of aneurysms were studied. The tensile strength and maximum intraluminal pressures were measured. Morphology of grafts was evaluated on histology and electron microscopy. The endothelial and infiltrating cells were identified.


RESULTS
Transplanted allogeneic aortic grafts preserved in anhydrous sodium chloride up to 12 mo remained patent for 15 mo. Hypertrophy of intima with endothelial cells lining the inner surface and single muscle cells between elastic fibers were seen. Normal structure of collagen and elastic fibers was maintained. Only minor-host mononuclear infiltrates were seen around the preserved allografts.


CONCLUSIONS
Rat aortas preserved in anhydrous sodium chloride retain patency and function even 15 mo after transplantation. Such grafts retain their wall structure and evoke only minor recipient reaction. Our results confirm that anhydrous sodium chloride may be used for arterial grafts preservation. Low immunogenicity is additional advantage.
Department of Surgical Research and Transplantology, Mossakowski Medical Research Centre, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland; Department of Human Epigenetics, Mossakowski Medical Research Centre, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland. Electronic address: magdalena.gewartowska@vp.pl.
Magdalena
M
Gewartowska
Department of Surgical Research and Transplantology, Mossakowski Medical Research Centre, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland; Department of Human Epigenetics, Mossakowski Medical Research Centre, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland; Department of Gastrointestinal and Transplantation Surgery and Clinical Laboratory, Central Clinical Hospital, Ministry of Internal Affairs, Warsaw, Poland.
Waldemar L
WL
Olszewski
Department of Surgical Research and Transplantology, Mossakowski Medical Research Centre, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland; Department of Human Epigenetics, Mossakowski Medical Research Centre, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland.
Olga
O
Buyanowskaya
Electron Microscopy Platform, Mossakowski Medical Research Centre, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland.
Malgorzata
M
Frontczak-Baniewicz
D000818:Animals; D001011:Aorta / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology / Q000637:transplantation*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D051381:Rats; D011914:Rats, Inbred BN; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D014021:Tissue Preservation / Q000379:methods*; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous; D014654:Vascular Patency
D012965:Sodium Chloride
Allogeneic; Arteries; Preservation; Sodium chloride