Behavior of endothelial cells cultured on Silastic and Dacron velour under flow conditions in vitro: implications for prelining vascular grafts with cells.

Tissue-cultured bovine aortic endothelial cells were subjected to flow in an in vitro circulatory loop designed to simulate the flow and pressure conditions in the aorta. The cells were cultured under stationary conditions on tubes of fibronectin-coated Silastic or of Dacron velour. The tubes were then added to the flow loop, which circulated complete tissue culture medium in a pulsatile mode. Light microscopy and cell counts showed that the cells not only remained adherent for up to 2 weeks under flow conditions, but also underwent hypertrophy and proliferation in response to the flow regimen.