Endothelial sodding of a novel prosthetic coronary artery bypass graft

Background Endothelial sodding is a method of applying autologous endothelial cells to the luminal surface of a prosthetic conduit, thereby potentially improving graft prformance in vivo. Experiments were designed to determine the feasibility of sodding an endothelial monolayer within a prosthetic conduit applied to the canine coronary circulation. Methods and Results Isolated endothelial cells from falciform ligament adipose tissue in adult mongrel dogs were sodded (density = 2 × 10 ⁶ cells/cm ²) onto the luminal surface of a 6 mm i.d. expanded ploytetrafluoroethylene (Permaflow ^R) conduit and immediately implanted into the left circumflex coronary artery (n=9). Permaflow ^R conduits were also placed without the sodding procedure as controls(n=8). At 3 weeks, all grafts were explanted and examined by light and scanning electeron microscopy. Endothelial cells vasodilator release was evaluated by superfusion bioassay. Sodded grafts contained a confluent endothelial cell layer devoid of adherent thrombus or platelets. Unsodded grafts contained no endothelialnum and retained adherent platelets, collagen, and white blood cells. Effluent from sodded grafts stimulated with calcium ionophore A23187 caused a significantly greater relaxation of its boiassay ring than effluent from unsodded grafts (34+/-18% versus 12+/-5%; n=7;p<0.03). Conclusion Soddding of endothelial cells onto a Permaflow ^R coronary artery bypass graft results in a confluent, nonthrombogenic layer of cells which resemble endothelium in appearance and releases vasodilator substances in response to calcuum ionophore A23187. Endothelial sodding may have potential to optimize prosthetic grafts utilized as coronary artery bypass conduits.