Canine femoral artery displacement with the chitosan-sulfated silk fibroin artificial blood vessel:the formation of vascular endothelial cells, vascular smooth muscle cells and fibroblasts

Ma Li; Xie Yi-xu; Chang Yu

doi:10.3969/j.issn.2095-4344.2017.06.007

Abstract：BACKGROUND:The chitosan-sulfated silk fibroin artificial blood vessel was obtained in our previous study. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the biocompatibility and function of the chitosan-sulfated silk fibroin artificial blood vessel replacement into the canine femoral artery. METHODS:Eight Beagles were randomly allotted to two groups, and chitosan-sulfated silk fibroin artificial blood vessel was implanted into the femoral artery (experimental group), but animalsin control group received no intervention. Six months after implantation, the coagulation function was detected, the vascular formation, including endothelial, smooth muscle and fibroblast layers were observed through hematoxylin-eosin staining under electron microscope. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1) Hematoxylin-eosin staining showed that vascular endothelial cells, vascular smooth muscle cells and fibroblasts were found in the experimental group, which were similar with the normal vascular structures. (2) Immunohistochemistry:in the experimental group, there was a deeply stained band at the tissue edege through Factor Ⅷ staining, suggesting the formation of the endothelium;there were abundant brown particles precipitated in á-SMA staining, suggesting the vascular smooth muscle cel formation;Vimentin staining showed various brown particle precipitations indicating the fibroblast formation, and all were close to the normal vascular structures. (3) Electron microscope observed that the inner surface and section of the artificial vessel were similar with the normal one, and the three-layer structures formed in the section arranged irregularly. (4) There were no differences in the prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, thrombin time and fibrinogen between groups. To conclude, these results suggest that the chitosan-sulfated silk fibroin artificial blood vessel holds good biocompatibility and performances.