0000000000595774
AUTHOR
Else Müller-schweinitzer
Freezing without surrounding cryomedium preserves the endothelium and its function in human internal mammary arteries
Abstract Purpose Cryopreserved human blood vessels may become important tools in bypass surgery. Optimal cryopreservation of an arterial graft should, therefore, preserve both histological and physiological characteristics of smooth muscle and endothelium comparable to the unfrozen artery. Methods Rings from human internal mammary arteries (IMA) were investigated in vitro either unfrozen or after immersion into a cryomedium (RPMI 1640 containing 1.8 M Me2SO and 0.1 M sucrose) and cryostorage with and without surrounding medium. Results In unfrozen IMA, neither contractile responses to noradrenaline (NA) nor endothelium-dependent relaxant responses to acetylcholine (ACH) was modified after e…
Effects of the novel polymer gel LeGoo on human internal thoracic arteries.
Purpose Established hemostatic devices can injure vessel wall integrity. LeGoo (Pluromed, Woburn, MA), a novel poloxamer gel with reverse thermosensitive properties, is a new device for temporary occlusion of blood vessels. The present study investigated the effects of LeGoo on vascular function and morphology. Description The distal end of the human internal thoracic artery was used to assess vascular function of LeGoo-applied segments in organ bath experiments and by scanning electron microscopy. Evaluation After LeGoo application, both maximal contractile responses to noradrenaline and endothelium-dependent relaxant responses to acetylcholine were significantly reduced. Scanning electron…