Published online Feb 15, 2004. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v10.i4.555
Revised: September 12, 2003
Accepted: October 7, 2003
Published online: February 15, 2004
AIM: To study the morphologic and cellular immunologic changes after homologous transplantation of the abdominal aorta in rats after programmed cryopreservation (-196 °C).
METHODS: Abdominal aorta was harvested from anesthetized Spraque Dawley (SD) rats for cryopreservation (group B) or immediate implantation (group A). The survival rates and apoptotic rates of aortic endothelial cells (ECs) were examined. The patency rates, histology and cellular immunologic changes of the abdominal aorta were examined on days 1, 3, 7, 14, 30, 60 after transplantation respectively.
RESULTS: The survival rate of ECs after programmed cryopreservation was 90.1% ± 1.79%, about 3.4% lower than that of uncryopreservation (93.5% ± 1.96%). The apoptotic rates of ECs was increased after cryopreservation (7.15% vs 4.86%, P < 0.05). The patency rate of group B was significantly higher than that of group A (91.6% ± 12.9% vs 62.5% ± 26.2%, P < 0.01). CD4/CD8 ratio, TCR αβ and CD11b/ CD18 ratio of group B were significantly lower than those of group A (P < 0.05). Revivification of the cryopreserved abdominal aorta showed normal adventitia and intact smooth muscle cells.
CONCLUSION: Cryopreservation can reduce homologous abdominal aortic antigenecity. Even if without administration of immunosuppressive agents, it is still feasible to implement homologous artery grafting in rats.