The aim of this study was to examine the suitability of digital image
analysis, using the KS400 software system, for the morphometric evaluation
of the tissue response after prosthesis implantation in an animal model.
Twenty-four female pigs aged 10 weeks were implanted with infrarenal
Dacron® prostheses for 14, 21, 28, and 116 days. Following the
explantation and investigation of the neointima region, the expression of
beta-1-integrin, the proliferation rate by means of Ki-67 positive cells,
and the intima thickness were evaluated as exemplary parameters of the
tissue response after implantation. Frozen tissue sections were
immunohistochemically stained and subsequently examined using
computer-aided image analysis. A maximum expression of 32.9% was observed
for beta-1-integrin 14 days after implantation, gradually declining over
time to 9.8% after 116 days. The proliferation rate was found to be 19% on
day 14, increasing to 39% on day 21 with a subsequent gradual decline to
5% after 116 days. The intima thickness increased from 189.9 μm on day
14 to 1228.0 μm on day 116. In conclusion, digital image analysis was
found to be an efficient and reproducible method for the morphometric
evaluation of a peri-prosthetic tissue response.