Vein-to-artery grafts: the long-term development of neo-intimal hyperplasia and its relationship to vasa vasorum and sympathetic innervation.

摘要: A series of 14 vein-to-artery grafts, 1 mm in diameter and 5 long, were inserted microsurgically into iliac arteries rats. They analysed histologically 8–18 months later compared with control the same rats. Neo-intimal hyperplasia developed was measured all grafts but values did not significantly exceed equivalent intimal plus medial thicknesses arteries. Vasa vasorum quantitated as number vessels per mm2 neo-intima, also differ from values. The density sympathetic innervation using fluorescent catecholamines. There an overall significant increase long-term graft arteries. These results show that such small vein adapt function very effectively, a manner remarkably similar to artery they replace, for long periods time.