Vascular organ culture: prevention of endothelial damage due to removal and reperfusion.

Endothelial cell damage is recognized as a complication in blood vessels which are excised and reperfused for grafting or vascular organ culture. We demonstrate that the damage consists of lifting, crenation and detachment of endothelial cells, partially due to contracture and forceful redilation of the vessel wall. We use a mechanical brace and smooth muscle cell relaxation with papaverine to maintain length and circumference of rabbit carotid arteries during removal and reperfusion. With this technique, a considerable degree of morphological preservation of the endothelial cell layer can be achieved in isolated and perfused vessel segments. Furthermore, this principle of endothelial cell preservation by prevention of contracture during vessel preparation may be applicable clinically.