Abstract
Inner and outer capsules and intercapsular tufts of high and low porous Dacron vascular prostheses were examined under both light and electron microscopes from 1 to 1, 184 days after implantation in the thoracic aorta of 96 dogs.
Transmission electron microscopic examinations revealed that the collagen fibers were one of the very important elements of them. Three dimensional network structures of the collagen fibers could be observed by means of scanning electron microscopy after enzymatic digestion.The main arrangement of the collagen fibers was found in rows uniformaly parallel to the ridge of each crimp.This phenomenon was similar to that of the intimal smooth muscle cells on the inner capsules whose arrangement was determined by the tension to which they were subjected. The arrangements of the collagen fibers and intimal smooth muscle cells on the high porous graft were more regular than on the low porous one. In parallel, the stabilities of inner capsules of both grafts were examined in respects of nutrition, thickness, mechanical structure and exfoliation.
Results of the examinations of the arrangements and the stabilities suggested that the high porous graft was superior to low porous one.
