Chronic histologic changes after vascular clamping are not associated with altered vascular mechanics.

The mechanical properties of arteries, along with the histologic and scanning electron microscopy characteristics of the nonatherosclerotic canine arteries, were investigated six months after vascular clamping. Different vessel clamps were applied to 73 sites on the carotid and femoral arteries in five anesthetized dogs. Each clamp was applied for 30 minutes with (a) sufficient force to just occlude blood flow or (b) as tightly as the clamp could be placed.

Effects of hypercholesterolemia on healing of vascular grafts.

Small-diameter vascular grafts woven from bioresorbable lactide/glycolide copolymers have been successfully interposed into aortas of normal NZW rabbits. The current study examines the histologic and functional reactions to these bioresorbable grafts in severely hypercholesterolemic rabbits, a standard animal model of atherosclerosis. Sixty rabbits were placed on a 2% cholesterol, 6% peanut oil atherogenic diet.

The validity of canine platelet aggregometry in predicting vascular graft patency.

Several laboratories have found canine platelet aggregometry predictive of thrombotic potential in vascular grafts. Adenosine diphosphate (ADP) is a frequently used agonist, often at unspecified or differing concentrations. This study was designed to evaluate the predictive value of ADP-induced platelet aggregometry and the validity of the methodology.

Prostacyclin production by blood-contacting surfaces of endothelialized vascular prostheses.

This study examines prostacyclin production by blood-contacting surfaces within woven vascular prostheses of polydioxanone (PDS), polyglactin 910 (PG910), or Dacron interposed into rabbit infrarenal aortas. Grafts and normal aortic segments were explanted after 1, 3, and 6 months for pulsatile perfusion with Medium-199 for 60 minutes. Aliquots were removed serially for 6-keto-PGF1 alpha assay.

Neuroendocrine innervation of the hepatic vessels in the rat and in man.

An extensive array of nerve fibers ramify around the afferent blood vessels of the liver and the extrahepatic and intrahepatic biliary pathways, and are thought to be involved in regulation of blood flow. Although the role of sympathetic innervation is established, little is known about the location or role of regulatory peptidergic innervation in the liver. We examined the anatomic distribution of a wide variety of regulatory peptides and several neural antigens by in situ immunohistochemistry in the rat and in man.