Effect of seeding time and density on endothelial cell attachment to damaged vascular surfaces.

An in vitro model to facilitate the study of endothelial cell seeding of damaged vascular surfaces has been developed. This may have applications in the study of endothelial seeding of angioplasty and endarterectomy sites. Using this model, the optimum endothelial seeding time for attachment to damaged vascular surfaces should not exceed 30 min and, to achieve confluent cell attachment, a seeding density > 5 x 10(5) cells/cm2 should be used.