Features of Histological Picture of Homografts with Preservation in Distilled Water

INTRODUCTION: An important problem today is determining the role of the preservation medium in storing cadaveric material for reconstructive vascular surgeries. The question, at what stage of preservation irreversible changes occur in the homograft wall that do not allow its use in reconstructive operations on the arteries, remains open. A comparative assessment of the results of preserving homografts in RPMI 1640 solution and distilled water is promising. AIM: To determine histological changes in cadaveric homografts during storage in distilled water in different observation periods. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A morphohistological examination of cadaveric homografts preserved in distilled water, was conducted, 60 arterial and 60 venous samples were studied. Morphohistological examination was conducted on days 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, 42 after homograft collection. The thicknesses of intima-muscular complex, muscle layer, internal elastic membrane, venous homograft wall, and the number of myocyte nuclei in 0.01 mm2 of muscle portions of arterial and venous homograft walls were assessed in different preservation periods, in distilled water and in RPMI 1640 medium. RESULTS: The thickness of the intima-muscular complex decreased at the end of day 28 relative to the values of day 7, but increased on day 42 relative to day 28. The thickness of the muscle layer on day 21 decreased relative to day 7, but increased by day 28 relative to day 21. The thickness of the internal elastic membrane decreased by day 21 relative to day 7. By day 42, a tendency was noted towards an increase in its thickness relative to the values of day 21. A decrease in the venous homograft wall thickness without adventitia 38% was revealed at the end of day 42 compared to day 7. There was a decrease in the number of myocyte nuclei of arterial homografts in 0.01 mm2 the end of day 42 relative to day 7 and a decrease in the number of myocyte nuclei of venous homografts in 0.01 mm2 at the end of day 42 relative to day 7. A peculiarity of preservation of the arterial homograft in distilled water was the existence of preparations with a complete absence of myocyte nuclei on day 42. CONCLUSION: When preserved in distilled water, similar patterns (in comparison with RPMI 1640 medium) continue in the dynamics of changes in the thickness of the studied portions of homograft walls and in the dynamics of reduction of the number of myocyte nuclei of muscle portions of homografts, but the detected significant differences cannot ensure optimal storage of grafts in it.