Anticalcification Treatment of Glutaraldehyde-fixed Bovine Pericardium with Amino Acids (The Effect of Ethanol, Glutamic Acid and Homocysteic Acid Treatment) / 대한흉부외과학회지

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Glutaraldehyde-fixed heterografts are prone to calcification after long-term implantation in human, and this is one of the limiting factors for the longevity of the heterografts used in cardiovascular surgery. The aim of the study was to evaluate the anticalcification effect of an ethanol and amino acids treatment on glutaraldehyde- fixed bovine pericardium. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Bovine pericardial tissues were divided into 5 groups. Group 1 consisted of tissues fixed with glutaraldehyde, group 2 consisted of commercially available bovine pericardial valve tissues (Carpentier-Edwards PERIMOUNT), group 3 consisted of glutaraldehyde-fixed tissues treated with ethanol, group 4 consisted of glutaraldehyde-fixed tissues treated with ethanol and L-glutamic acid, and group 5 consisted of glutaraldehyde-fixed tissues treated with ethanol and homocysteic acid. The tissue microstructure was examined by light and electron microscopy. Tissue samples of each group were implanted into rat subcutaneous tissue for 3~4 months and the calcium contents were measured after harvest. RESULT: The collagen fibers appeared to be well preserved in all the groups. The calcium contents of groups 2, 3, 4 and 5 (13.46+/-11.74, 0.33+/-0.02, 0.39+/-0.08 and 0.42+/-0.06micro/mg, respectively) were all significantly lower than that of group 1 (149.97+/-28.25micro/mg) (p <0.05). The calcium contents of groups 3, 4 and 5 were all significantly lower than that of group 2 (p <0.05). CONCLUSION: Treatment with ethanol alone or in combination with amino acids (L-glutamic acid or homocysteic acid) strongly prevented the calcification of glutaraldehyde-fixed bovine pericardium.