[Autologous endothelial cell transplantation in meacacos]

To lay a theoretical foundation for the clinical application of autologous endothelial cell transplantation.

Macaco endothelial cells derived from superficial veins were cultivated in vitro for 13.89 +/- 1.36 days. The multiplied cells were lined in vitro onto the luminal surface of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) grafts precoated with fibrin glue and fibronectin, then cultivated further for 9 days. 15 macacos were divided randomly into two groups. The common iliac arteries of the exper mental animals (n = 10) were replaced with endothelialized grafts, those of control (n = 5) with untreated ones.

The amount of endothelial cells increased for 147.93 +/- 88.68 folds. All the cells were diploid cells with a purity of 99%. The content of both 6-keto-PGF1a and vWF in the supernatant of primary and subcultured passages didn't have significant difference. Two hours and 9 days after cell seeding, the luminal surface of grafts were covered completely by a prominent, spindle-like endothelial monolayer underneath an even fibrin glue matrix could be seen. Nine days after seeding, the dense condensation of cytoskeleton on the luminal and basal side of cells increased apparently. Four weeks after grafts implantation 8/10 of experimental grafts, with a thickness of intima 80 +/- 12 microns, were patent; while the 5 control grafts were occluded.

The endothelial cell transplantation could effectively increase the patency rate of synthetic blood vessel prosthesis.