Cell Counts
Images of the ventricular shunt catheter samples were taken when the
catheter was still in the chamber system. The catheters were imaged to
include the two rows of holes on the sides of the catheter. Data showed
that the cell counts of the blood exposed sample greater than the
control group (Figure 3A). Average count of the DAPI and GFAP stains for
the control samples were 92.7±48.7 and 177.8±138.1 cells respectively.
The blood exposed sample showed to have an average DAPI count of
475.3±342.5 and 1029.5±429.9 cell count for GFAP (Table 1). Analysis of
the control and blood exposed samples showed a significant increase in
cell attachment when exposed to blood (P<0.0001).
Development of this model was also created to hold enough volume for
cell culturing and break the top portion of the chamber for imaging. The
ventricular shunt catheter’s row of holes in direct contact with the
cells (denoted “bottom” because of their orientation in the chamber)
were removed from the chambers and imaged for cell counts (Figure 3B).
Average cell count of the DAPI stain was 98.8±39.6 for the control
sample and the blood exposed sample was 225.4±189.7 cells. For the GFAP
stain the average count was 167.2±66.9 and 504.2±255.5 for the control
and blood exposed sample respectively (Table 1). Comparisons of samples
exposed and not exposed to blood showed a significant difference in
total cell attachment on the surface of the catheter
(P<0.001).