Effect of SDS-based decelullarization in the prevention of calcification in glutaraldehyde-preserved bovine pericardium: study in rats.

OBJECTIVE The aim of study was to investigate the SDS-based decellularization process as an anticalcification method in glutaraldehyde-preserved bovine pericardium in subcutaneous rat model. METHODS Pericardium samples with 0.5 cm² area were divide in four groups: group GDA: 0.5% glutaraldehyde-preserved pericardium (GDA); group GDA-GL: GDA + 0.2% glutamic acid (GL); group D-GDA: decellularized (D) pericardium with 0.1% SDS + GDA and group D-GDA-GL: decellularized pericardium + GDA + 0.2% glutamic acid. After this samples were implanted in 18 rats in subcutaneous position till 90 days. Each animal received samples of the four groups. The explants were performed at 45 and 90 days. The explants were subjected to histology in glass slides stained with hematoxilin-eosin and alizarin red, morphometry evaluation and the calcium content was measured by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. RESULTS The inflammatory infiltrate was the same in all groups, however more intense in GDA and GDA-GL groups in 45 days, increasing at 90 days. The calcium contents for 45 days were: 32.52 ± 3.19 µg/mg in GDA group; 22.12 ± 3.87 µg/ mg in GDA-GL group; 1.06 ± 0.38 µg/mg in D-GDA group and 3.99 ± 5.78 µg/mg in D-GDA-GL (P< 0.001). For 90 days were 65.91 ± 24.67 µg/mg in GDA group; 38.37 ± 13.79 µg/mg in GDA-GL group; 1.24 ± 0.99 µg/mg in D-GDA group and 30.54 ± 8.21 µg/mg in D-GDA-GL (P< 0.001). Only D-GDA did not show increase rates of calcium at 45 to 90 days (P=0.314). CONCLUSION SDS-based decellularization process reduced the inflammatory intensity and calcification in bovine pericardium in subcutaneous rat model for 90 days.