Maintenance of functional activity of human pulmonary arteries after cryopreservation.
1. Human intrapulmonary arteries have been investigated in vitro in fresh tissue or after storage at -190 degrees C in foetal calf serum containing 1.8 M dimethyl sulphoxide. 2. After cryopreservation of the arteries, maximal contractile force was reduced to 76%. This was assessed by the responses (in g) to 10 nM of the thromboxane analogue, U 46619. 3. Constricting agonists such as noradrenaline, 5-hydroxytryptamine, histamine and U 46619 stimulated fresh and frozen/thawed arteries producing pD2 values similar to the respective values determined on fresh tissues. 4. Endothelium-independent relaxant responses of U 46619-precontracted arteries to prostacyclin (PGI2), aminophylline and papaverine were generally unchanged after storage. The same was true for relaxant response to the potassium channel activator P-1075 whereas the pD2 values for SDZ PCO 400, RP 49356 and cromakalim were somewhat diminished. 5. Nevertheless, a significant correlation was obtained when the apparent pD2 values for all agonists on fresh and frozen/thawed tissues were compared (P less than 0.001). 6. The evidence suggests that after cryopreservation of human intrapulmonary arteries at -190 degrees C, mechanisms of both contraction and relaxation are well-maintained.
Ellis
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P
Sandoz Pharma AG, Basel, Switzerland.
Müller-Schweinitzer
E
E
D019796:15-Hydroxy-11 alpha,9 alpha-(epoxymethano)prosta-5,13-dienoic Acid; D015925:Cryopreservation; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects; D009126:Muscle Relaxation / Q000187:drug effects; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D015221:Potassium Channels / Q000187:drug effects; D011450:Prostaglandin Endoperoxides, Synthetic / Q000494:pharmacology; D011651:Pulmonary Artery / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*
D015221:Potassium Channels; D011450:Prostaglandin Endoperoxides, Synthetic; D019796:15-Hydroxy-11 alpha,9 alpha-(epoxymethano)prosta-5,13-dienoic Acid