Successful implantation of a decellularized equine pericardial patch into the systemic circulation.
Abstract: In the past, successful use of decellularized xenogenic tissue was shown in the pulmonary circulation. This study, however, evaluates a newly developed decellularized equine pericardial patch under high pressure circumstances. Methods: Seven decellularized equine pericardial scaffolds were implanted into the descending aorta of the juvenile sheep. The implanted patches were oversized to evaluate the durability of the decellularized tissue under high surface tension (Law of Laplace). After 4 months of implantation, all decellularized patches were inspected by gross examination, light microscopy (H&E, Serius red, Gomori, Weigert, and von Kossa straining), and immunohistochemical staining. Results: The juvenile sheep showed fast recovery after surgery. There was no mortality during follow-up. At explantation, only limited adhesion was seen at the surgical site. Gross examination showed a smooth and pliable surface without degeneration, as well as absence of aneurysmatic dilatation. Light microscopy showed a well preserved extracellular scaffold with a monolayer of endothelial cells covering the luminal side of the patch. On the outside part of the patch, a well developed neo-vascularization was seen. Host fibroblasts were seen in all layers of the scaffolds. There was no evidence for structural deterioration or calcification of the decellularized equine pericardial scaffolds. Conclusions: In the juvenile sheep, decellularized equine tissue showed no structural deterioration, but regeneration and remodeling processes at systemic circulation.
Publication Date: 2014-01-10 PubMed ID: 24407027PubMed Central: PMC3936916DOI: 10.12659/MSMBR.889915Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The research evaluated the use of newly developed decellularized equine pericardial patches and tested them under high pressure situations in the aorta of juvenile sheep. After four months, the patches showed no structural deterioration and had been successfully covered by a layer of endothelial cells, with new vasculature outside of the patch, indicating promising potential for further usage within systemic circulation.
Methods
- In this study, the researchers implanted seven decellularized pericardial scaffolds, originated from horse hearts, into the descending aorta of juvenile sheep. The implants were oversized on purpose to test the durability of the decellularized tissue when subjected to high surface tension.
- After four months of implantation, all patches were thoroughly inspected in several ways including gross examination, as well as light and immunohistochemical microscopy.
Results
- The juvenile sheep exhibited fast recovery after the surgical procedure. No deaths occurred during the follow-up period.
- At the time of explantation, very limited adhesion was observed at the surgical site, suggesting that the implanted patches were well-tolerated by the host organism.
- Fine examination revealed that the implants maintained a smooth and pliable surface, showing no signs of degeneration, and there was no aneurysmatic dilation observed.
- The microscopic examination also revealed a layer of endothelial cells firmly covering the luminal side of the patch, which is a positive indication that the host organism was accepting the implanted patch.
- New capillaries were formed at the outer part of the patch, which indicates the process of neo-vascularization. In addition, host fibroblasts were seen throughout the scaffolds, suggestive of integration and regeneration.
- The researchers did not find any evidence of structural deterioration or calcification in the decellularized equine pericardial scaffolds, strongly indicating their durability and successful adaptation.
Conclusions
- The researchers concluded that the use of decellularized equine tissue in the systemic circulation of juvenile sheep was successful. This was evident because the tissue did not exhibit signs of structural degradation and, instead, the implanted patches underwent regeneration and remodeling processes after the operation.
- This study thus offers promise and supports the efficacy of using decellularized equine pericardial tissue for further research and potentially as a strategy in medical and surgical treatments.
Cite This Article
APA
Dohmen PM, da Costa F, Lopes SV, Vilani R, Bloch O, Konertz W.
(2014).
Successful implantation of a decellularized equine pericardial patch into the systemic circulation.
Med Sci Monit Basic Res, 20, 1-8.
https://doi.org/10.12659/MSMBR.889915 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Heart Center Leipzig, Univeristy of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Santa Casa Hospital, Curitiba, Brazil.
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Santa Casa Hospital, Curitiba, Brazil.
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Pontificia Universidade Catolica do Parana, Curitiba, Brazil.
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Charité Hospital, Medical University Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Charité Hospital, Medical University Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Blood Circulation / physiology
- Calcification, Physiologic
- Female
- Horses
- Immunohistochemistry
- Pericardium / cytology
- Prosthesis Implantation
- Sheep
- Tissue Engineering
- Tissue Scaffolds / chemistry
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