Name: Vein Interposition Model: A Suitable Model to Study Bypass Graft Patency (Video) | JoVE Journal
Uploaded: 2017-01-15T13:00:00.000+00:00
Duration: 7 min 22 s
Description: Learn the rat vein interposition model to study bypass graft patency and myointimal hyperplasia in vascular surgery. This efficient surgical technique enables investigation of biological processes during bypass occlusion.

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5 minutes

The authors thank Christiane Pahrmann for her technical assistance. This study was funded by the Deutsche Stiftung fuer Herzforschung (F/28/14). D.W. was supported by the travel award from the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation. T.D. received the Else Kro&#776;ner Excellence Stipend from the Else-Kro&#776;ner-Fresenius-Stiftung (2012_EKES.04). S.S. received research grants from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG; DE2133/2-1, T.D.&#160; and SCHR992/3- 1, SCHR992/4-1, S.S.).

Animals received humane care in compliance with the Guide for the Principles of Laboratory Animals, prepared by the Institute of Laboratory Animal Resources and published by the National Institutes of Health. All animal protocols were approved by the responsible local authority (&#34;Amt f&#252;r Gesundheit und Verbraucherschutz, Hansestadt (Office for Health and Consumer Protection) Hamburg&#34;).
1. Animal Care
<ol>
	<li>Obtain Lewis rats (LEW/Crl) rats and ROSA/luciferase-LEW transgenic rats weighing 300-350 g from the Institute of Laboratory Animals.</li>
	<li>Keep the rats under conventional conditions in ventilated cabinets and feed them standard rat chow and autoclaved water ad libitum.</li>
	<li>Perform a graft transplantation using the ROSA/luciferase-LEW transgenic rats as the donors and the syngenic LEW/Crl rats as the recipients.</li>
</ol>
2. Preparation of the Donor Rat
<ol>
	<li>Use an induction chamber to anaesthetize a rat with isoflurane (2.5-3%).</li>
	<li>Place the rat on its back and maintain the anesthesia with a facemask covering the mouth and nose. Check for sufficient depth of anesthesia by pinching the hind feet and verifying the absence of reflexes. Apply some vet ointment to the eyes to prevent dryness while under anesthesia.&#160; &#160;</li>
	<li>Spread the hind legs and fix their position using tape.</li>
	<li>Shave the inguinal hair with a hair trimmer and disinfect the entire area using povidone-iodine followed by 80% ethanol. Repeat the disinfection step twice. 
	NOTE: The surgical area, gauze, and surgical instruments should be sterilized. Maintain a sterile field throughout the procedure and wear single-use, sterile surgical gloves, masks, and caps.</li>
	<li>Under a microscope, perform a vertical incision along the linea inguinalis. Use two forceps to gently separate the subcutaneous tissues and expose the superficial epigastric vein from its origin on the femoral vein. Carefully isolate the superficial epigastric vein from the surrounding tissues.</li>
	<li>Stop blood flow in the superficial epigastric vein using two micro clamps.</li>
	<li>Harvest an approximately 0.5&#160;to 1&#160;cm segment of the vein by carefully lifting the isolated vein with forceps and cutting through the vessel with microscissors. Leave the micro clamps on the vessel stump to prevent the loss of blood. Place the removed piece of vein on sterile gauze. Carefully place a 30 G&#160;needle inside one end of the harvested vein and flush the vessel with heparin (50 units/ml). 
	NOTE: Handle the vein with care and avoid damage during lifting, cutting, and flushing. Make sure to flush the graft with the proper amount of heparin.</li>
	<li>Keep the vessel segment in 1% lidocaine on ice until transplantation into the recipient rat to prevent a vessel spasm.</li>
	<li>Euthanize the donor rat by increasing the anesthesia to 5% isoflurane. After 2-3 min, open the abdomen along the linea alba, cut through the diaphragm, and remove the heart to stop circulation.</li>
</ol>
3. Preparation of the Recipient Rat
<ol>
	<li>Anesthetize and fix the recipient rat in the same way as the donor rat.</li>
	<li>Shave the medial side of the legs with a hair trimmer and disinfect three times using povidone-iodine and 80% ethanol. &#160;</li>
	<li>Monitor the depth of anesthesia and ensure that it is sufficient by verifying the absence of reflexes when pinching the hind feet.</li>
	<li>Perform a median femoral incision from the knee to the inguinal fold. Under a microscope, use 2 forceps to separate the femoral artery from its surroundings.</li>
	<li>Use micro clamps to stop the flow of blood. Place the proximal clamp first, followed by the distal clamp.</li>
	<li>Cut out a short segment of the clamped femoral artery with microscissors and discard it. Shorten the remaining arterial stump with microscissors, creating a gap that is 1-2 mm larger than the vein graft. Flush the arterial stump with heparin using a 30 G&#160;needle. 
	NOTE: If the adventitia protrudes slightly beyond the vessel stump, use forceps to pull it slightly over the end of the vessel and remove a piece.</li>
	<li>Place the harvested vein from step 2.8 between the arterial stumps and adjust the length so that it fits suitably into the gap. Note the direction of the vein.</li>
	<li>Perform the proximal anastomosis first using a 10-0 prolene suture. Conduct single stitches in the order shown (Figure 1D). Start with a suture on each lateral side before adding three more sutures on the ventral side. Afterwards, place three stitches on the dorsal side of the vessel to complete the anastomosis. &#160;</li>
	<li>Connect the distal vessels with the graft using the same technique as for the proximal anastomosis described in step 3.8. Again, start with a suture on each lateral side, and then place three sutures on the ventral side and the dorsal side.</li>
	<li>Load two 1-mL syringes with fibrin glue component 1 and 2. Carefully lift the graft with forceps and drop approximately 100 &#956;l&#160;of fibrin glue component 1 under the graft, followed by component 2. 
	NOTE: Make sure that components 1 and 2 are applied in a 1:1 ratio.</li>
	<li>Place the graft back in its position and drop an additional 100 &#956;l of components 1 and 2 on top of the graft. Be sure that the glue covers both the graft and the anastomosis in order to prevent anastomotic insufficiency and over-distension of the vein graft. &#160;</li>
	<li>Carefully open the distal clamp, followed by the proximal.</li>
	<li>Confirm a successful surgery by checking for a visible pulse in the transplanted vein and distal artery of the graft.</li>
	<li>Remove excessive glue, which impedes skin closure. Use forceps to lift the cured glue and remove the excess with microscissors. Close the skin layers with 5-0 prolene sutures.</li>
	<li>Inject 4-5 mg/kg Carprofen subcutaneously before allowing the rat to wake up. Do not leave the animal unattended until it has regained sufficient consciousness to maintain sternal recumbency. Keep the animal in a single cage until it is fully recovered.</li>
	<li>Add Metamizole to the drinking water (50 mg Metamizole per 100 ml) as pain medication for the following 3 days and monitor the animal daily. &#160;</li>
</ol>
4. Duplex Sonography
NOTE: Use duxplex sonography to visualize blood flow non-invasively in rats14.
<ol>
	<li>Anaesthetize a rat in an induction chamber (isoflurane 2%). Place the rat on its back and maintain anesthesia with a facemask covering the nose.</li>
	<li>Use hair clippers and hair removal cream to remove the hair around the area of the thigh.</li>
	<li>Apply ultrasound gel to the thigh. Make sure that there are no air bubbles. Acquire duplex sonography images using an MS 400 transducer (center frequency: 30 MHz) with a frame rate of 230-400 frames/sec. &#160;</li>
</ol>
5. Histopathology
NOTE: Harvest and stain the vessel with Masson&#8217;s trichrome staining for morphometric analysis15.
<ol>
	<li>Fix the harvested vessel in 4% paraformaldehyde overnight and dehydrate it in increasing concentrations of ethanol.&#160; Embed the sample in paraffin and cut it into 5 &#956;m&#160;thick slices using a microtome. 
	NOTE: Paraformaldehyde is toxic and should be handled with special care.</li>
	<li>Deparaffinize the slides before staining them with trichrome staining solution. Dehydrate the stained slides, clear them with xylene, and mount them in mounting medium. After drying the slides, view the samples with a microscope.&#160; &#160;</li>
</ol>
6. Bioluminescence Imaging (BLI)
NOTE: The postoperative graft was tracked over time in vivo by measuring bioluminescent signal16.
<ol>
	<li>Dissolve 1 g of D-Luciferin potassium salt in 22 ml of PBS and inject it intraperitoneally into the rat (375 mg/kg body weight). Wait 15 min for the luciferin to circulate in the animal.</li>
	<li>Place the rat into a real-time bioluminescent quantification system and access the bioluminescence signal.</li>
</ol>

<ol><li>Sabik, J. F., 3rd, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((Understanding+saphenous+vein+graft+patency%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22Circulation%22%5BJournal%5D)">Understanding saphenous vein graft patency.</a> Circulation. 124, 273-275 (2011).</li>
<li>Goldman, S., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((Long-term+patency+of+saphenous+vein+and+left+internal+mammary+artery+grafts+after+coronary+artery+bypass+surgery%3A+results+from+a+Department+of+Veterans+Affairs+Cooperative+Study%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22J+Am+Coll+Cardiol%22%5BJournal%5D)">Long-term patency of saphenous vein and left internal mammary artery grafts after coronary artery bypass surgery: results from a Department of Veterans Affairs Cooperative Study.</a> J Am Coll Cardiol. 44, 2149-2156 (2004).</li>
<li>Fitzgibbon, G. M., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((Coronary+bypass+graft+fate+and+patient+outcome%3A+angiographic+follow-up+of+5%2C065+grafts+related+to+survival+and+reoperation+in+1%2C388+patients+during+25+years%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22J+Am+Coll+Cardiol%22%5BJournal%5D)">Coronary bypass graft fate and patient outcome: angiographic follow-up of 5,065 grafts related to survival and reoperation in 1,388 patients during 25 years.</a> J Am Coll Cardiol. 28, 616-626 (1996).</li>
<li>O'Brien, J. E., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((Wound+healing+around+and+within+saphenous+vein+bypass+grafts%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22J+Thorac+Cardiovasc+Surg%22%5BJournal%5D)">Wound healing around and within saphenous vein bypass grafts.</a> J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 114, 38-45 (1997).</li>
<li>El-Kurdi, M. S., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((Ovine+femoral+artery+bypass+grafting+using+saphenous+vein%3A+a+new+model%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22J+Surg+Res%22%5BJournal%5D)">Ovine femoral artery bypass grafting using saphenous vein: a new model.</a> J Surg Res. 193, 458-469 (2015).</li>
<li>Yuda, A., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((Angiotensin+II+receptor+antagonist%2C+L-158%2C809%2C+prevents+intimal+hyperplasia+in+dog+grafted+veins%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22Life+Sci%22%5BJournal%5D)">Angiotensin II receptor antagonist, L-158,809, prevents intimal hyperplasia in dog grafted veins.</a> Life Sci. 68, 41-48 (2000).</li>
<li>McCann, R. L., Hagen, P. O., Fuchs, J. C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((Aspirin+and+dipyridamole+decrease+intimal+hyperplasia+in+experimental+vein+grafts%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22Ann+Surg%22%5BJournal%5D)">Aspirin and dipyridamole decrease intimal hyperplasia in experimental vein grafts.</a> Ann Surg. 191, 238-243 (1980).</li>
<li>Thomas, A. C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((Animal+models+for+studying+vein+graft+failure+and+therapeutic+interventions%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22Curr+Opin+Pharmacol%22%5BJournal%5D)">Animal models for studying vein graft failure and therapeutic interventions.</a> Curr Opin Pharmacol. 12, 121-126 (2012).</li>
<li>Hu, Y., Xu, Q. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((New+mouse+model+of+vein+bypass+graft+atherosclerosis%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22Heart+Lung+Circ%22%5BJournal%5D)">New mouse model of vein bypass graft atherosclerosis.</a> Heart Lung Circ. 11, 182-188 (2002).</li>
<li>Salzberg, S. P., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((Increased+neointimal+formation+after+surgical+vein+grafting+in+a+murine+model+of+type+2+diabetes%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22Circulation%22%5BJournal%5D)">Increased neointimal formation after surgical vein grafting in a murine model of type 2 diabetes.</a> Circulation. 114, I302-I307 (2006).</li>
<li>Abbott, A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((Laboratory+animals%3A+the+Renaissance+rat%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22Nature%22%5BJournal%5D)">Laboratory animals: the Renaissance rat.</a> Nature. 428, 464-466 (2004).</li>
<li>Lindblad-Toh, K. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((Genome+sequencing%3A+three%27s+company%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22Nature%22%5BJournal%5D)">Genome sequencing: three's company.</a> Nature. 428, 475-476 (2004).</li>
<li>Yu, P., Nguyen, B. T., Tao, M., Campagna, C., Ozaki, C. K. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((Rationale+and+practical+techniques+for+mouse+models+of+early+vein+graft+adaptations%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22Journal+of+vascular+surgery%22%5BJournal%5D)">Rationale and practical techniques for mouse models of early vein graft adaptations.</a> Journal of vascular surgery. 52, 444-452 (2010).</li>
<li>Olver, D. T., Lacefield, J. C., Shoemaker, K. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((Evidence+of+bidirectional+flow+in+the+sciatic+vasa+nervorum%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22Microvascular+research%22%5BJournal%5D)">Evidence of bidirectional flow in the sciatic vasa nervorum.</a> Microvascular research. 94, 103-105 (2014).</li>
<li>Stubbendorff, M., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((Inducing+myointimal+hyperplasia+versus+atherosclerosis+in+mice%3A+an+introduction+of+two+valid+models%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22Journal+of+visualized+experiments+%3A+JoVE%22%5BJournal%5D)">Inducing myointimal hyperplasia versus atherosclerosis in mice: an introduction of two valid models.</a> Journal of visualized experiments : JoVE. , (2014).</li>
<li>Conradi, L., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((Immunobiology+of+fibrin-based+engineered+heart+tissue%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22Stem+cells+translational+medicine%22%5BJournal%5D)">Immunobiology of fibrin-based engineered heart tissue.</a> Stem cells translational medicine. 4, 625-631 (2015).</li>
<li>Dashwood, M. R., Tsui, J. C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((%27No-touch%27+saphenous+vein+harvesting+improves+graft+performance+in+patients+undergoing+coronary+artery+bypass+surgery%3A+A+journey+from+bedside+to+bench%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22Vascular+Pharmacology%22%5BJournal%5D)">'No-touch' saphenous vein harvesting improves graft performance in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery: A journey from bedside to bench.</a> Vascular Pharmacology. 58, 240-250 (2013).</li>
<li>Bekler, H. I., Rosenwasser, M. P., Akilina, Y., Bulut, G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((The+use+of+an+absorbable+collagen+cover+%28NeuraWrap%29+improves+patency+of+interpositional+vein+grafts%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22Acta+orthopaedica+et+traumatologica+turcica%22%5BJournal%5D)">The use of an absorbable collagen cover (NeuraWrap) improves patency of interpositional vein grafts.</a> Acta orthopaedica et traumatologica turcica. 44, 157-161 (2010).</li>
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</ol>

The authors have nothing to disclose.

This video demonstrates a rat vein interposition model to investigate vein graft loss and to allow for the exploration of the underlying pathological processes and the testing of new drugs or therapeutic options.
Anesthesia is a crucial aspect of surgical procedures. A continuous inhalative anesthesia system is recommended, as this is a safe and easy method, especially during prolonged operations. This can be of great importance during the training phase, when the operation takes more than 1 h...

Coronary artery diseases and their complications are among the leading causes of death worldwide. Current therapeutic strategies focus on re-establishing the blood flow, either by dilating the narrowed vessel or by creating a bypass. Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) using vein autografts was first described in 1968 and has been refined over the years. Apart from the revascularization of the left anterior descending coronary artery, saphenous vein conduits are most commonly used1. However, graft patency remains the Achilles heel of saphenous vein grafts (SVG). One year after surgery, graft patency is 85%, dropping to 61% after ten years2,3. Unveiling the pathophysiological mechanisms and causes of SVG patency loss is therefore an important task.
This video demonstrates a rat vein interposition model to investigate vein graft loss. The overall goals of this method are to explore the underlying pathobiological and -physiological processes during disease progression and to develop a suitable model for drug or therapeutic option testing. By transplanting the superficial epigastric vein into the arterial system, this model closely mimics the clinical setting of coronary artery bypass grafting. Surgical trauma, ischemia, and wall stress are important triggers of pathological vascular changes and are imitated in the model described.
Different models and species are available to investigate vein graft patency loss. Large animal models, such as pigs4, sheep5, dogs6, and monkeys7, resemble human vessel and anatomical structures and thus enable complex therapeutic strategies, such as bypass stenting or new surgical techniques, to be tested8. However, special housing, equipment, and staff are required. In addition, high costs and the need for an additional anesthetist during surgery impede their broader application. Small animals, including rats, are easy to handle, do not require special housing, and have manageable costs. Compared to mouse models9,10, rat models have the advantage of better operability and therefore less variability in the outcome. Rats are physiologically and genetically more similar to humans than mice11,12. In addition, most wild-type mice only develop limited myointima13, which make mouse models prone to type II errors. The histology of the main mouse veins, such as the inferior vena cava, only consists of a few cell layers and renders early evaluation difficult13. A further disadvantage is the small amount of tissue available for subsequent analysis after graft recovery.
The model described in this video is reproducible, inexpensive, and easy to perform, and it can be established quickly and reliably. It is especially suitable for evaluating expensive experimental therapeutic agents, such as viral vectors for gene therapy, in an economical fashion.

<table><tbody><tr><td>Rat LEW/Crl</td><td>Charles River</td><td>Stock number 004</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Rat LEW-Tg(Gt(ROSA)26Sor- 1&lt;br/&gt; luc)11Jmsk</td><td>Institute of laboratory animals, Kyoto University, Japan</td><td>NBPR rat number 0299</td><td>http://www.anim.med.kyoto-u.ac.jp/NBR/</td></tr><tr><td>PFA 4%</td><td>Electron Microscopy Sciences</td><td>#157135S</td><td>20%</td></tr><tr><td>hair clipper</td><td>WAHL</td><td>8786-451A ARCO SE</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Forene</td><td>AbbVie</td><td>PZN 10182054 Art.Nr.: B506</td><td>Isoflurane</td></tr><tr><td>microsurgical clamp</td><td>Fine Science Tools</td><td>18055-04</td><td>Micro-Serrefine - 4 mm</td></tr><tr><td>clamp applicator</td><td>Fine Science Tools</td><td>18056-14</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>hair removal creme</td><td>Rufin cosmetic</td><td>27618</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Povidone-Iodine</td><td>Betadine Purdue Pharma</td><td>NDC:67618-152</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>10-0 Ethilon suture</td><td>Ethicon</td><td>2814G</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>5-0 prolene suture</td><td>Ethicon</td><td>EH7229H</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Rimadyl</td><td>Pfizer</td><td>400684.00.00</td><td>Carprofen</td></tr><tr><td>Novaminsulfon</td><td>Ratiopharm</td><td>PZN 03530402</td><td>Metamizole</td></tr><tr><td>Heparin</td><td>Rotexmedica</td><td>PZN: 3862340</td><td>25.000 I.E./ ml</td></tr><tr><td>Xylocain 1%</td><td>AstraZeneca</td><td>PZN: 1137907</td><td>Lidocain</td></tr><tr><td>EVICEL</td><td>J&amp;amp;J Med.Ethicon Biosur</td><td>PZN 7349697 Art. Nr.:EVK01DE</td><td>fibrin glue</td></tr><tr><td>NaCl 0.9%</td><td>B.Braun</td><td>PZN 06063042 Art. Nr.: 3570160</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Vevo 770 high-resolution &lt;em&gt;in vivo&lt;/em&gt; micro-imaging system</td><td>VisualSonics</td><td></td><td>duplex sonography</td></tr><tr><td>Ecogel 100 ultrasound gel</td><td>Eco-med</td><td>30GB</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>D-Luciferin Firefly, potassium salt</td><td>Biosynth</td><td>L-8220</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>PBS pH 7.4</td><td>Gibco</td><td>10010023</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Xenogen Ivis 200</td><td>Perkin Elmer</td><td></td><td>bioluminescence imaging</td></tr><tr><td>Weigerts iron hematoxylin Kit</td><td>Merck</td><td>1.15973.0002</td><td>Trichrome staining</td></tr><tr><td>Resorcine-Fuchsine Weigert</td><td>Waldeck</td><td>2.00E-30</td><td>Trichrome staining</td></tr><tr><td>Acid Fuchsin</td><td>Sigma-Aldrich</td><td>F8129-25G</td><td>Trichrome staining</td></tr><tr><td>Ponceau S solution</td><td>Serva Electrophoresis</td><td>33427</td><td>Trichrome staining</td></tr><tr><td>Azophloxin</td><td>Waldeck</td><td>1B-103</td><td>Trichrome staining</td></tr><tr><td>Molybdatophosphoric acid hydrate</td><td>Merck</td><td>1.00532.0100</td><td>Trichrome staining</td></tr><tr><td>Orange G</td><td>Waldeck</td><td>1B-221</td><td>Trichrome staining</td></tr><tr><td>Light Green SF</td><td>Waldeck</td><td>1B-211</td><td>Trichrome staining</td></tr><tr><td>Vitro-Clud</td><td>Langenbrinck</td><td>04-0001</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Glacial Acetic Acid</td><td>Sigma-Aldrich</td><td>537020</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>37% HCl</td><td>Sigma-Aldrich</td><td>H1758</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Xylene</td><td>Th. Geyer</td><td>3410</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Paraffin</td><td>Leica biosystems</td><td>REF 39602004</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Ethanol absolute</td><td>Th. Geyer</td><td>2246</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Ethanol 96%</td><td>Th. Geyer</td><td>2295</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Ethanol 70%</td><td>Th. Geyer</td><td>2270</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Slide Rack</td><td>Ted Pella</td><td>21057</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Staining dish</td><td>Ted Pella</td><td>21075</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Bepanthen Eye and Nose ointment</td><td>Bayer</td><td>1578675</td><td>Eye ointment</td></tr></tbody></table>

vein interposition model: a suitable model to study bypass graft patency

Vein Interposition Model: A Suitable Model to Study Bypass Graft Patency

Bypass grafting is an established treatment method for coronary artery disease. Graft patency continues to be the Achilles heel of saphenous vein grafts. Research models for bypass graft failure are essential for a better understanding of pathobiological and pathophysiological processes during graft patency loss. Large animal models, such as pigs or sheep, resemble human anatomical structures but require special facilities and equipment. This video describes a rat vein interposition model to investigate vein graft patency loss. Rats are inexpensive and easy to handle. Compared to mouse models, the convenient size of rats permits better operability and enables a sufficient amount of material to be obtained for further diverse analysis. In brief, the inferior epigastric vein of a donor rat is harvested and used to replace a segment of the femoral artery. Anastomosis is conducted via single stitches and sealed with fibrin glue. Graft patency can be monitored non-invasively using duplex sonography. Myointimal hyperplasia, which is the main cause for graft patency loss, develops progressively over time and can be calculated from histological cross sections.

The rat vein interposition model is suitable to study the development of myointima hyperplasia and vein graft failure. Animals recover well from the surgery and show excellent physical condition post-operation. Figure 1 shows the key surgical steps. After the skin incision along the linea inguinalis, the epigastric superficial vein and femoral artery are identified (Figure 1A). Harvesting of the graft should be performed carefully, without damaging the graft (Figure 1B),...

This video demonstrates a model to study the development of myointimal hyperplasia after venous interposition surgery in rats.

Bypass grafting is an established treatment method for coronary artery disease. Graft patency continues to be the Achilles heel of saphenous vein grafts. ...

vein-interposition-model-suitable-model-to-study-bypass-graft

Research

JoVE Journal

Medicine

Neointimal hyperplasia is the primary cause of stenosis in arterialized veins. We propose a new protocol whereby the right external jugular vein is grafted using the cuff technique in the common carotid artery of Sprague Dawley rats. The survival rate was 100 % at the time point of sacrifice.

Training a Sophisticated Microsurgical Technique: Interposition of External Jugular Vein Graft in the Common Carotid Artery in Rats

This video demonstrates the interposition of the rabbit carotid artery with the jugular vein to induce venous intimal hyperplasia by subjecting the veins to arterial pressure. This model will help investigate molecular and genetic interventions to attenuate the progression of intimal hyperplasia after revascularization surgeries.

Carotid Artery and Jugular Vein Interposition: A Technique to Induce Venous Intimal Hyperplasia in Rabbit Model

Vascularized Composite Allotransplantations (VCA) have become a clinical reality. However, broad clinical application of VCA is limited by chronic multi-drug immunosuppression. The authors present a reliable and reproducible large animal model to translate novel immunomodulatory strategies that can minimize or potentially eliminate the need of immunosuppression in VCA.

A Modified Heterotopic Swine Hind Limb Transplant Model for Translational Vascularized Composite Allotransplantation (VCA) Research

To improve our knowledge of cellular and molecular neotissue formation, a murine model of the TEVG was recently developed. The grafts were implanted as infrarenal vena cava interposition grafts in C57BL/6 mice. This model achieves similar results to those achieved in our clinical investigation, but over a far shortened time-course.

Implantation of Inferior Vena Cava Interposition Graft in Mouse Model

The mechanisms leading to the development of intimal hyperplasia (IH) and vein graft failure are still poorly understood. This study describes an ex vivo system to perfuse human veins under controlled flow and pressure. Furthermore the efficiency of external mesh reinforcement to limit the development of IH was evaluated.

Procedure for Human Saphenous Veins Ex Vivo Perfusion and External Reinforcement

This method describes the placement of interposition vein grafts in rabbits, the transduction of the grafts, and the achievement of durable transgene expression. This allows the investigation of physiological and pathological roles of transgenes and their protein products in grafted veins, and testing of gene therapies for vein graft disease.

A Rabbit Model of Durable Transgene Expression in Jugular Vein to Common Carotid Artery Interposition Grafts

The present protocol aims to experimentally create venous intimal hyperplasia by subjecting veins to arterial blood pressure for developing strategies to attenuate venous intimal hyperplasia following revascularization surgery using vein grafts.

A Rabbit Venous Interposition Model Mimicking Revascularization Surgery using Vein Grafts to Assess Intimal Hyperplasia under Arterial Blood Pressure

In this protocol, novel pig vein bypass grafting was performed through a small incision in the left chest wall without cardiopulmonary bypass. A postoperative pathology study was done, which showed intimal thickening.

Establishment and Evaluation of a Porcine Vein Graft Disease Model

This protocol allows for the in vivo quantification of venous compliance and distensibility using catheterization and 3D angiography as a survival procedure allowing for a variety of potential applications.

Quantifying Inferior Vena Cava Compliance and Distensibility in an In Vivo Ovine Model Using 3D Angiography

This study presents a porcine model for evaluating small-diameter grafts in femoral arteries. The model mimics human vascular dynamics and comprehensively assesses graft patency, hemodynamics, and vascular remodeling. It offers a valuable platform for testing vascular grafts and monitoring them with Doppler ultrasound and angiography.

Femoral Vascular Graft Implantation in a Swine Model to Test Small-Diameter Vascular Grafts

Learn the rat vein interposition model to study bypass graft patency and myointimal hyperplasia in vascular surgery. This efficient surgical technique enables investigation of biological processes during bypass occlusion.

Vein Interposition Model: A Suitable Model to Study Bypass Graft Patency

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