Effect of sterilization methods on endothelium of homograft and heterograft valves

Abstract

Aortic valve cusps from the human, pig, veal, and lamb species were studied by surface staining techniques to evaluate the endothelial cell structure following four methods of valve preparation and sterilization. The four methods of sterilization were freezing-radiation, β-propiolactone, buffered formalin, and Hanks' solution. This study indicates that all four modalities of sterilization destroy the endothelial cells of the valve leaflets. When valves have been sterilized by these four methods and are used for replacement, the grafted valves are nonviable and are simply tissue skeletons.