Abstract
Experimental studies were performed to research into the possibility of clinical application of arterial grafts transplantation irradiated with high voltage cathode ray.
Homologous and heterologous arterial segments were implanted in Fisher rat back subcutaneously. Antibody titer of Fisher rat after implantation was measured with immune-adherence hemagglutination method. Antibody titer after implantation of homologous and heterologous grafts decreased to 1/8 by 2 millions rads irradiation. Antibody titer of irradiated heterologous graft was still higher than that of nonirradiated homologous one.
To assess whether the postmortem change of arterial graft may affect its patency rate, homologous grafts taken from the corpses 3 or 6 hours after sacrifice, which were irradiated with 2 millions rads were transplanted in carotid artery in dogs using end-to-end anastomosis. Angiography 1 or 2 weeks after transplantation revealed the patency of all grafts of 14 dogs. On histological examination, 6 months after transplantation the structures of the graft, especially elastic fibers were well preserved. Complete reendothelialization was found on scanning electron microscope.
It is concluded that homologous grafts obtained within 6 hours after death are useful and tolerate to construct extracranial-intracranial bypass by use of high voltage cathode ray irradiation.
