Gundula Edelhauser MD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Gurkan Erman, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Christoph Domenig, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Martin Popovic, Abstract Co-Author: Consultant, J&P Medical Research Ltd

Dominik Berzaczy MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Robert Borny, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Dietrich Beitzke MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Wolfgang K. Matzek MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Johannes Lammer MD, Abstract Co-Author: Scientific Advisory Board, W. L. Gore & Associates Scientific Advisory Board, Abbott Laboratories Scientific Advisory Board, Boston Scientific Corporation

Martin A. Funovics MD, Abstract Co-Author: Speaker, Cook Group Incorporated

For understanding of biological processes in the vessel wall after interventional procedures (neointimal hyperplasia,SMC migration,gene expression profiling,drug testing) an ex-vivo tissue culture model of human vascular segments accessible to interventional procedures and sufficient cultivation time to study their effects is highly desirable.We developed a system to suit these requirements and assessed morphologic characteristics of cultivated human vessel segments for up to 15 days.  

15 saphenous vein segments of approximately 3cm each were harvested from patients undergoing bypass surgery of the leg.The vessel segments were placed in a customized glass chamber connected to a regulated roller pump, afterload valve, and reservoir.The chamber has a 7F port to allow for angioplasty or stent deployment directly in the vessel segment.Customized culture medium was pumped at a set flow rate and transmural pressure.The chamber was kept in a sterile environment in an incubator with daily medium changes.Sterile tubes were connected to the glass chamber in the incubator through separate custom-made sterile ports in the incubator. The vessel segments were cultured for 5,10, and 15 days.After formaline fixation and paraffin embedding, the samples were histologically examined with uncultivated segments of the original vessel serving as controls.Morphology and integrity (media thickness,endothelial presence,and receptor expression and density) were investigated after haematoxylin-eosin, periodic acid-schiff, and elastica van gieson staining; transmission electron microscopy and immunohistochemistry for CD31 and CD34.

One sample was lost to infection, 14 remaining samples were cultivated without detectable infection for the planned time period.Temperature, medium pH, and transmural pressure remained constant during cultivation.Compared to the controls, medial thickness remained within 10% of the original values, no changes in elastin content, intimal morphology or receptor distribution and density were detectable.

An ex-vivo tissue culture model was created and characterized that can maintain basic biomorphology and receptor status of human venous segments in vitro over 15 days.

This model potentially allows for long-term investigation of human vessel segments including studying the effects of interventional procedures in a convenient, cost effective, controlled environment.

Edelhauser, G, Erman, G, Domenig, C, Popovic, M, Berzaczy, D, Borny, R, Beitzke, D, Matzek, W, Lammer, J, Funovics, M, Perfusion System for ex Vivo Investigation of Human Vessels.  Radiological Society of North America 2011 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 26 - December 2, 2011 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2011/11001355.html