title: Long-term (72 hours) preservation of rat lungs.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We sought to investigate whether the addition of ethanol to a preservation solution (as an antifreeze agent) might allow a reduction of the storage temperature to 0 degrees C without causing freezing damage and improve lung function after prolonged (72 hours) ischemia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Lungs from Sprague-Dawley rats were ventilated and perfused ex vivo at 37 degrees C for 60 minutes in the following experimental groups: (1) the no ischemia and reperfusion (no I-R) group (n = 7), in which lungs were studied immediately after harvesting; (2) the LPD24 (n = 7) and (3) LPD72 (n = 8) groups, in which, after harvesting, lungs were flushed and immersed in low-potassium dextran solution and stored deflated at 10 degrees C for 24 and 72 hours, respectively, until reperfusion; and (4) the TEST72 group (n = 9), in which lungs were flushed and immersed in Krebs-Henseleit buffer with added ethanol (10 mL/L) after harvesting and stored deflated at 0 degrees C for 72 hours until reperfusion.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with the no I-R group, the other 3 groups had worse lung function, higher lung water content, and evidence of cell injury at reperfusion (P <.01). However, lung function at reperfusion (assessed on the basis of either effluent Po(2), peak airway pressure, or mean arterial pulmonary pressure) was better (P <.01) in the TEST72 group than in the LPD24 or LPD72 groups. Paradoxically, lung cell structure was better preserved in the LPD24 group than in the TEST72 group (or the LPD72 group).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this experimental model of rat lung ischemia-reperfusion injury, a low preservation temperature (0 degrees C) combined with the addition of ethanol to the preservation solution improves lung function at reperfusion after 72 hours of ischemia but fails to maintain lung cell structure.
authors.affiliation: Serveis de Cirurgia Toràcica, Hospital Universitari Son Dureta, Palma de Mallorca, Spain.
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Aguiló
authors.forename: Enric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Serra
authors.forename: Bernat
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Togores
authors.forename: Andrés
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: de la Peña
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.forename: Alvar G N
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Agustí
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D008168:Lung / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D009926:Organ Preservation; D010477:Perfusion; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013997:Time Factors