Fig 6. Cyclic deformation alters mechanical properties of glutaraldehyde-fixed bovine pericardium, but leaves porcine pericardium and bovine pericardium unchanged.

Tangent modulus (A) and ultimate tensile strength (B) of glutaraldehyde-fixed bovine pericardium decreased following 10 million cycles of deformation but returned to baseline levels at 20 million cycles. No alteration in tangent modulus or ultimate tensile strength of either porcine or bovine pericardium was found following cyclic deformation. Tangent modulus and ultimate tensile strength were assessed using a two-way analysis of variance, comparing means between tissue types and cycle number. n = 6 per group, per cycle number. Groups not connected by the same lower case letter (porcine pericardium), lower case double apostrophe (bovine pericardium), or lower case single apostrophe (glutaraldehyde-fixed bovine pericardium) are statistically significantly different. Data represent the mean ± s.d.