Cell viability in fresh, refrigerated, and cryopreserved human heart valve leaflets

Collagen synthesis and collagenase activity of cryopreserved heart valves

“…Some reports pointed out the deterioration and malfunction of the implanted cryopreserved valves. [4][5][6][7] Mitchell and colleagues 8 morphologically reported the nonviability and the flattened collagen network of the cryopreserved allograft valves and suggested that their usual degeneration cannot be attributed to immunologic response. 15 However, these precise mechanisms of the degenerative changes and the allograft valve failure have not yet been clearly revealed.…”

“…There are some experimental studies that favor persistence of donor fibroblast viability after implantation. [4][5][6][7] On the other hand, some clinical studies do not favor donor fibroblast viability after implantation and insist on pre-serving the intact original collagen network, [8][9][10][11][12] which provides the structural basis of the valve matrix, for the longterm performance of allograft valves. Controlled collagenolysis ability is thought to play an important role as the first step of the remodeling process, 13 and consequent collagen synthesis is a second step.…”