Abstract:

Objective      To evaluate the feasibility of genipin as a new biological valve cross-linking agent. Methods     Acellular bovine pericardia were respectively treated with  glutaradehyde and genipin for tanning. The HE slides of bovine pericardial were observed under a light microscope to identify the decellularized effect. Collagen fiber arrangements were observed under an electron microscope. Shrinkage temperature and tensile strength of the biological materials were tested. Bovine pericardia were buried in the subcutaneous of the musculus glutaeus maximus of Wistar rats for 4 weeks or 8 weeks, and then calcium and phosphorus contents were determined in them. Results    In decellularized bovine pericardial slides, there was almost no nucleus, while in non-decellularized ones, there were many nuclei. Collagen fibers formed a ring in genipin-tanned bovine pericardial tissues, while they were reticulated in glutaraldehyde-tanned tissues. Collagen fiber arrangements were a little looser in genipin tanning than in glutaraldehyde tanning. The shrinkage temperature of genipin-tanned tissues was lower than that of glutaraldehydetanned ones(P＜0.05). The difference had no statistical significance in maximum tensile strength between genipin tanning and glutaraldehyde tanning(P＞0.05). Calcium and phosphorus contents in genipin tanning were significantly lower than those in glutaraldehyde tanning at 4 weeks and 8 weeks (P＜0.05). The calcium content in genipin tanning was significantly lower at 8 weeks than at 4 weeks(P＜0.05).  Conclusion     Calcium and phosphorus contents of genipin-tanned bovine pericardial tissues are significantly lower than those of glutaraldehyde-tanned ones, and the calcium content in genipintanned bovine pericardial tissues decreased with time. Tensile strength is higher in genipin-tanned bovine pericardial tissues. Consequently, genipin is a promising crosslinking agent for biological tissues.

Key words: Genipin； Glutaraldehyde； Bovine pericardium； Tanning； Anticalcification