Toxic effects of aldehydes released from fixed pericardium on bovine aortic endothelial cells

Abstract

Glutaraldehyde (GA) and formaldehyde (FA) were shown to be released from 1 cm² fixed pericard patches into 2-mL storage solutions after three 2-min washings in concentrations of about 1 mg/L. The cytotoxicity of these aldehyde concentrations on bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAECs) was evaluated in vitro, by proliferation capacity, cellular ATP content, PGI₂ release and cyclic AMP synthesis. Continuous incubation of BAECs with GA > 0.1 mg/L and FA > 0.5 mg/L resulted in a significantly inhibited proliferation and in an increase of the intracellular Ca²⁺ triggered parameters, PGI₂ and cyclic AMP, up to three fold. This strongly suggests an aldehyde-induced inhibition of the plasmamembrane bound Ca²⁺-ATPase, an enzyme which normally maintains low intracellular Ca²⁺-level. From these findings there is evidence that aldehydes released from bioprosthetic valve tissue may contribute to the lack of endothelial cell coverage in human implants.