Immunogenicity of Glutaraldehyde-Tanned Bovine Pericardium

Glutaraldehyde-tanned bovine pericardium (G-tBP) was tested for its ability to induce immunologic responses in vivo. Sections of G-tBP were implanted between the abdominal muscles in rats and guinea pigs. Control animals received Dacron implants. Lymphocytes and sera from animals were isolated at 2 and 4 weeks after implantation (four animals per group each time). Tritiated thymidine (3H-TdR) incorporation and an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were used to assay T- and B-lymphocyte responses to G-tBP antigens. At the same time points implants and surrounding tissue from these animals were processed for histology. Results show that lymphocytes from animals implanted with G-tBP responded significantly (P < 0.001) to G-tBP antigens in vitro but not to Dacron. In contrast, lymphocytes from Dacron-implanted animals failed to respond to G-tBP or Dacron preparations. ELISA results show that animals implanted with G-tBP produce antibody directed against G-tBP antigens. Histology revealed a dense mononuclear cell infiltrate at the interface between G-tBP and surrounding host tissues with focal degradation of implant collagen. Dacron elicits a nonspecific lymphocytic and foreign body-type reaction. These results indicate that G-tBP can induce immunologic responses in vivo consistent with a host vs graft reaction.