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Regeneration of the arterial wall in microporous, compliant, biodegradable vascular grafts after implantation into the rat abdominal aorta

Ultrastructural observations

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Summary

The ultrastructure of a new type of vascular graft, prepared from a mixture of polyurethane (95 weight %) and poly-L-lactic acid (5 weight %), was examined six weeks after implantation into the abdominal aorta of rats. These microporous, compliant, biodegradable, vascular grafts function as temporary scaffolds for the regeneration of the arterial wall.

Smooth muscle cells, covering the grafts, regenerated a neo-media underneath an almost completely regenerated endothelial layer (neo-intima). These smooth muscle cells varied in morphology from normal smooth muscle cells to myofibroblasts. They were surrounded by elastic laminae and collagen fibers.

Macrophages, epithelioid cells, multinucleated giant cells, fibroblasts and capillaries were present in the disintegrating graft lattices. The epithelioid cells and multinucleated giant cells engulfed polymer particles of the disintegrating grafts.

The regeneration of the endothelial and smooth muscle cells is similar to the natural response of arterial tissue upon injury. The presence of macrophages, epithelioid cells, multinucleated giant cells, fibroblasts and capillaries in the graft lattices resembles the natural response of tissue against foreign body implants. Both of these responses result in the formation of a neo-artery that possesses sufficient strength, compliance and thromboresistance to function as a small caliber arterial substitute.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research Division, Department of Cardiopulmonary Surgery, The Netherlands

    Berend van der Lei & Charles R. H. Wildevuur

  2. Department of Histology, The Netherlands

    Paul Nieuwenhuis

  3. Centre for Medical Electron Microscopy, State University of Groningen, The Netherlands

    Engbert H. Blaauw, Freark Dijk, Caesar E. Hulstaert & Izaäk Molenaar

Authors
  1. Berend van der Lei
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  2. Charles R. H. Wildevuur
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  3. Paul Nieuwenhuis
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  4. Engbert H. Blaauw
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  5. Freark Dijk
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  6. Caesar E. Hulstaert
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  7. Izaäk Molenaar
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Supported by Grant nr. 82.042 from the Dutch Heart Foundation

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van der Lei, B., Wildevuur, C.R.H., Nieuwenhuis, P. et al. Regeneration of the arterial wall in microporous, compliant, biodegradable vascular grafts after implantation into the rat abdominal aorta. Cell Tissue Res. 242, 569–578 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00225423

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