Method of treating a mammal having a defective heart valve

A method of treating a mammal having a defective heart valve, comprising the steps of:

• a) obtaining a bioprosthetic heart valve, said heart valve made according to a process comprising
• i) performing controlled autolysis on biological material comprising cellular and non-cellular structural components, said controlled autolysis consisting essentially of exposing biological material comprising cellular and non-cellular structural components to at least one solution consisting essentially of a buffer having a pH in the range from about 5.0 to about 8.0 and a temperature in the range from about 12.degree. C. to about 30.degree. C. for a sufficient amount of time to permit autolytic enzymes within the cells to degrade said cells whereby at least one region of the biological material is rendered substantially acellular while preserving the overall structural integrity and non-cellular structural components of the biological material, wherein the exposure occurs prior to any fixation of the biological material;
• and
• ii) fabricating a bioprosthetic heart valve wherein at least one leaflet comprises the exposed biological material of step (a);
• b) removing the defective heart valve from the mammal;
• and
• c) implanting the bioprosthetic heart valve in the mammal in place of the defective heart valve.