Origin of Seeded Endothelial Cells

Abstract

This study proposes to evaluate the effectiveness of porcine endothelial cell seeding on the patency rate and the cellular lining of healed grafts. Nonseeded grafts were implanted in a series of 8 dogs while porcine endothelial cell-seeded grafts were used in 15 animals. Aspirin (325 mg) was given daily to all animals. The thirty-two-day patency rate was 25% (2/8) versus 67% (10/15) respectively for the control and seeded grafts (p < .01). All patent grafts were lined with an endothelial surface. Cultures of the thirty-two-day old seeded grafts grew a combination of canine and porcine cells at a ratio of 5/1. The authors conclude that allograft cell seeding increases the patency rate of vena cava grafts and may stimulate growth of host canine cells. No clinical adverse reactions were noted with allograft cell seeding in the present study.