Figure 6.

Changes in the Implanted Pericardium-Derived Valves’ Histologic Findings Using Goat Models

(A) Schematic diagram of animal experiments using goats (top). Surgical images of implantation procedure in the aorta (bottom). (B) Masson’s trichrome–stained whole-leaflet views of the normal valve and preimplanted and explanted pericardium-derived BVs (implantation term 3 and 12 months). (C) Masson’s trichrome staining, hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining, and immunohistochemistry (IHC) for vimentin and FGB of the areas (areas 1 and 2) surrounded by broken lines in the enlarged view of (B). The right panels are high-magnification images of HE staining for identifications of cell types. Blue and black arrowheads indicate fibroblastic cells and macrophages, respectively. (D) A Coomassie brilliant blue image for the visualization of whole proteins and western blot images for the detection of FGB and PLG in tissue lysates from normal valves, pericardium, and explanted BVs. Blots of actin beta (ACTB) were used as an internal control. AVR = aortic valve replacement; other abbreviations as in Figures 3 and 4.