Injury to human endothelial cells in culture under conditions simulating the use of vein grafts for vascular surgery.

In order to evaluate the effects of various vein graft preparation media at various temperatures, the 51Cr release from cultured human endothelial cells, and the percentage of loosened cells were determined after incubation of the cells with the media. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was carried out to visualize any injuring effect of the media. Incubation was performed with either heparinized sodium acetate (HS), HS with 20% human serum added (HSS), or with cell culture medium with human serum, at either 4, 20 or 37 degrees C. Incubation with HS resulted in considerable injury, measured both by 51Cr release and percentage of cell detachment. By SEM cell membrane blisters and ruptures were observed. Increasing the temperature aggravated the harmful effects of HS. HSS hampered these hazardous effects significantly, but a slight increase in 51Cr release was observed when increasing the temperature. When incubated with culture medium, both 51Cr release and percentage of loosened cells were low, even at room or body temperature. From the results of the present study it may be suggested that in order to preserve the venous endothelial lining, simple solutions like HS should be avoided for irrigation and store solution of vein grafts in surgery. As we found increased percentage of loosened endothelial cells when incubation was performed with HSS or culture medium at 4 degrees C, profound cooling probably has no beneficial effect when the endothelial cells are offered an acceptable fluid.