Can autologous vascular endothelial cell seeding increase the patency rate of small-diameter No-React-treated bovine internal mammary arteries? An in vivo study in juvenile sheep.

Background: This study was performed to evaluate the possibility of seeding No-React-treated bovine small-diameter internal mammary arteries (SIMAs) and to record any improvement in patency rate.

Material/methods: During the in vitro study, 12 seeded SIMAs were divided into two groups; group I (n=6) was endothelial cell (EC) seeded and group II (n=6) EC seeded after pre-coating with fibrin glue to evaluate the binding capacity. During the in vivo part of the study, eight juvenile sheep received either a seeded or a non-seeded SIMA.

Comparison of cryopreserved homografts and decellularized porcine heterografts implanted in sheep.

This study evaluated cryopreserved homografts (Group 1) and porcine heterografts decellularized with deoxicholic acid (Group 2), implanted in the right ventricular outflow tract of juvenile sheep. Two groups with four animals in each were used and all animals survived with good outcome. Animals were sacrificed 90 or more days after surgery (90-150 days).