Graft Preservation Solution DuraGraft(®) Alleviates Vascular Dysfunction Following In Vitro Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury in Rats

Vascular ischemia/reperfusion injury (IRI) in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting can result in graft failure and the need for repeat revascularization procedures. DuraGraft(®) has been shown to protect structure and function in saphenous vein grafts against IRI. We compared the effect of DuraGraft(®) to saline solution on arterial grafts submitted to IRI. Rat thoracic aortic rings were harvested and immediately mounted in organ bath chambers (control, n = 7 rats) or underwent cold ischemic preservation either in saline (IR, n = 9 rats) or DuraGraft(®) (IR+Dura, n = 9 rats). Vascular function was measured ex vivo and immunohistochemistry was performed. Impaired maximum vasorelaxation (R(max)) to ACh in the IR-group compared to controls was ameliorated by DuraGraft(®), indicating an improvement in endothelial function (R(max) to ACh (%): IR + Dura 73 ± 2 vs. IR 48 ± 3, p < 0.05). Additionally, decreased aortic ring sensitivity to ACh (pD(2)-value: -log 50% maximum response) seen after IR in the saline group was increased by DuraGraft(®) (pD(2) to ACh: IR+Dura 7.1 ± 0.1 vs. IR 6.3 ± 0.2, p < 0.05). Impaired maximum contractile response to phenylephrine and high potassium chloride concentrations in the IR group compared to controls was significantly improved by DuraGraft(®). DuraGraft(®) alleviates vascular dysfunction following IRI by reducing nitro-oxidative stress and the expression of ICAM-1, without leukocytes engagement.