Spontaneous host endothelial growth on bioprosthetic valves and its relation to calcification

We studied host endothelial growth and calcification of bovine pericardial valve prostheses treated with: (A) 0.625% glutaraldehyde + 4% formaldehyde, (B) 99.5% glycerol or (C) 99.5% glycerol + 4% formaldehyde. Twenty-three stentless chordally supported bileaflet pericardial mitral valves with treatments A (n = 6), B (n = 6) or C (n = 11) were implanted in juvenile sheep for 125-273 days. After sacrifice, the anterior cusp from the annulus to papillary muscle of each valve was examined by scanning electron microscopy for the presence of endothelial cells, and the intrinsic calcification of each valve was determined by measuring calcium (μg/mg dry weight) from another 1 cm 2 piece of grossly normal cusp