Morphologic comparison of blood vessels used for coronary artery bypass graft surgery

The aim of this study was to evaluate morphologic features of healthy saphenous vein and internal thoracic artery, blood vessels used in coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery, and compare results.

Ten specimens of saphenous veins and ten of internal thoracic arteries used for CABG were obtained from 20 patients. Histological routine and immunohistochemical staining was performed with: endothelin (ET), tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 2 (TIMP2), metallomembranoproteinase 2 (MMP2), transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ), hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), protein gene product 9.5 (PGP9.5), vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM), intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM). A semiquantitative evaluation method was used.

There was found: a moderate number of endothelin-positive cells in both blood vessel types; a moderate number of MMP2-positive cells and moderate in number to numerous TIMP2-positive cells in veins. In arteries - occasionally marked positive MMP2 cells and negative TIMP2; moderate in number to numerous VEGF-positive endothelial cells on small blood vessels in vein wall and occasionally in artery wall; numerous TGFβ-positive structures in veins and abundance of VCAM- and ICAM-positive cells, few in arteries; few HGF-positive structures in veins, negative in arteries; In veins, few PGP9.5-positive nerve fibres, in arteries - moderate. Moderate TUNEL reaction-positive apoptotic cells in veins and few to moderate in arteries.

Vena saphena magna grafts are characterised by increased plasticity when it comes to modelling. Number of VEGF, VCAM and ICAM found in vena saphena magna proves the possible tendency of graft failure on basis of local blood supply intensification. Appearance of endothelin positive cells indicate the similar homeostasis condition in endotheliocytes in both - vein and artery grafts.