Development and in vivo validation of tissue-engineered, small-diameter vascular grafts from decellularized aortae of fetal pigs and canine vascular endothelial cells

Table 1 Extensive evaluation of seven dogs at 6 months post-implantation of tissue-engineered vascular grafts

Number	Gross observations	Histological staining	Color Doppler ultrasonography and three-dimensional CT	Scanning electron microscopy	Transmission electron microscopy
1	No obvious expansion; smooth surface without thrombi when sampled	Similar to natural arterial structure; a continuous cell inner layer; dense tunica media	Good patency; no obvious thrombi; no obvious stenosis and expansion	Continuous endothelial cell layer; tight cell junctions	Confirmation of the continuous endothelial cell layer; identification of Weibel–Palade bodies
2	√	√	√	√	√
3	√	√	√	√	√
4	√	√	√	√	√
5	√	√	√	√	√
6	√	√	√	√	√
7	√	√	√	√	√

All dogs were tested in the same manner and “√” indicates the same positive findings

ISSN: 1749-8090