[Cardiac cryopreservation at subzero temperatures: study of systolic and diastolic function].
We studied the alterations produced in left ventricular systolic and diastolic function after applying a protocol of cryopreservation at subzero temperatures. Isolated rabbit hearts were used for the study with 5% polyethylene glycol (PM 4000) being the cryoprotective agent.


METHODS
The cryoprotectant solution CP-16 was used on the explanted heart in three phases: induction, storage and thawing. After 60 minutes at -1.6 C and thawing at 2.7 C/min, the heart was connected to a Langendorff system and perfused anterogradely with Krebs-Henseleit buffer. We analyzed the systolic and diastolic parameters before and after cryopreservation, thereby establishing a comparative statistical study.


RESULTS
Following cryopreservation we found a statistically significant increase (p < 0.05) in the peak and developed pressure of the left ventricle with an upward, left displacement of the ventricular function curve. This is indicative of improvement in systolic function. However, the diastolic function showed worsening, with a statistically significant increase (p < 0.05) in mean stiffness, decrease in differential stiffness (p < 0.05) and upward, left displacement of the diastolic pressure-volume curve.


CONCLUSIONS
On the basis of our results we concluded that: a) PM 4000 polyethylene glycol maintains the heart biological viability during cryopreservation at subzero temperatures, and b) after an cryopreservation left ventricular diastolic function worsens with an increase in systolic function.
Gutiérrez Carretero
E
E
Unidad de Trasplante Cardíaco. Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío. Sevilla. egc@interbook.net
Bello Puentes
R
R
Borrego Domínguez
J M
JM
Hernández Fernández
A
A
Muñoz García
J
J
Prieto González
M
M
Ordóñez Fernández
A
A
D000818:Animals; D015925:Cryopreservation; D003971:Diastole; D006321:Heart / Q000502:physiology*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D011817:Rabbits; D013599:Systole; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left / Q000502:physiology