Improved biochemical preservation of lung slices during cold storage.
BACKGROUND
Development of lung preservation solutions typically requires whole-organ models which are animal and labor intensive. These models rely on physiologic rather than biochemical endpoints, making accurate comparison of the relative efficacy of individual solution components difficult. We hypothesized that lung slices could be used to assess preservation of biochemical function during cold storage.


METHODS
Whole rat lungs were precision cut into slices with a thickness of 500 microm and preserved at 4 degrees C in the following solutions: University of Wisconsin (UW), Euro-Collins (EC), low-potassium-dextran (LPD), Kyoto (K), normal saline (NS), or a novel lung preservation solution (NPS) developed using this model. Lung biochemical function was assessed by ATP content (etamol ATP/mg wet wt) and capacity for protein synthesis (cpm/mg protein) immediately following slicing (0 h) and at 6, 12, 18, and 24 h of cold storage. Six slices were assayed at each time point for each solution. The data were analyzed using analysis of variance and are presented as means +/- SD.


RESULTS
ATP content was significantly higher in the lung slices stored in NPS compared with all other solutions at each time point (P < 0.0001). Protein synthesis was significantly higher in the lung slices stored in NPS compared with all other solutions at 6, 12, and 18 h of preservation (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
This lung slice model allows the rapid and efficient screening of lung preservation solutions and their components using quantifiable biochemical endpoints. Using this model, we have developed a novel solution that improves the biochemical preservation of lung slices during cold storage.
Bull
D A
DA
Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Utah, 50 North Medical Drive, Salt Lake City, Utah 84132, USA. david.bull@hsc.utah.edu
Connors
R C
RC
Reid
B B
BB
Albanil
A
A
Stringham
J C
JC
Karwande
S V
SV
D015124:8-Bromo Cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D015925:Cryopreservation; D008168:Lung / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D016040:Lung Transplantation; D019188:Organ Preservation Solutions; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012685:Sepharose; D014199:Trehalose
D019188:Organ Preservation Solutions; D015124:8-Bromo Cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D012685:Sepharose; D014199:Trehalose