Dynamics of the number of myocyte nuclei in muscle portions of arterial and venous homograft walls during long-term preservation

INTRODUCTION: An important issue of use of freshly prepared homograft’s in the reconstructive vascular surgery is the maximal length of their preservation for safe application. Histological examinations are required.

AIM: To determine the optimal timing of the use of homograft’s based on the dynamics of the number of myocyte nuclei of muscle portions of arterial and venous homograft walls preserved in RPMI 1640 solution with the addition of gentamicin and fluconazole at a temperature of +4°C.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study of arterial and venous homograft’s from a posthumous donor was performed in compliance with the rules for collecting organs and tissues. The homograft’s were preserved in RPMI 1640 solution with the addition of gentamicin (400 μg/ml) and fluconazole (20 μg/ml) at a temperature of +4°C. At intervals of 7 days up to 84 days, sections of the arterial and venous grafts were cut out and fixed in formalin. Then glass slides were prepared. A total of 120 arterial and 120 venous samples were studied. The number of myocyte nuclei in 0.01 mm² muscle portions of the walls was estimated.

RESULTS: On day 42, a decrease in the number of myocyte nuclei in arterial homograft’s by 56% was recorded relative to the values of day 7 (p = 0.003), a decrease in the number of myocyte nuclei in venous homograft’s by 55% (p = 0.024); a decrease in nuclei was also recorded at all subsequent control points.

CONCLUSION: The optimal period for the use of arterial homograft’s can be considered the period of preservation in RPMI 1640 solution for up to 21 days. Venous homograft’s can be used for up to 42 days, despite the decrease in the number of myocyte nuclei after 35 days, since there is no edema of the venous homograft wall until the end of the 42 day.