Effect of transplantation on respiration and composition of aortic valves and pericardium

Abstract

Summary Autologous and homologous pericardial grafts and aortic leaflet homografts transplanted into the descending aorta of dogs are viable structures with a comparatively high oxygen uptake. In addition, they thickened markedly and displayed an increase in mass and a decrease in area. Simultaneously, the water content increased markedly. The three graft types could not be distinguished by gross inspection or physical dimensions after 40 days of implantation. Although all graft types displayed similar changes in electrolyte composition with implantation, the aortic leaflet homografts maintained their distinctive compositional characteristics. The graft elements that displayed measurable respiration by diffusion in these studies appeared to be largely, if not entirely, host fibrous tissue of high metabolic activity. It is not determinable from these studies how much, if any, of the transplanted tissue, autologous or homologous, actually survives.