title: Use of a third-generation perfluorocarbon for preservation of rat DCD liver grafts.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cold storage in any of the commonly used preservation solutions is not always adequate for donation after cardiac death (DCD) liver grafts due to prolonged warm ischemic time. In this study, we used a third-generation perfluorocarbon (PFC), Oxycyte, for DCD liver graft preservation in a rat model.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-eight rats (14 in each group) were used. Thirty minutes after cardiopulmonary arrest, livers were harvested and flushed with a cold and pre-oxygenated solution of either University of Wisconsin (UW) or UW + 20% PFC. After 8 h of cold preservation in either of the investigated solutions, liver graft specimens were analyzed for evidence of ischemic injury. Hemotoxylin and eosin staining (H and E), as well as immunohistochemical analysis with anti-cleaved caspase 3 antibody, was performed. Levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) in the preservation solution were analyzed at 1 and 8 h during preservation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the PFC group, the degree of cell congestion, vacuolization and necrosis were all significantly less than in the UW group (P = 0.002-0.004). The number of cells with a positive cleaved caspase 3 antibody reaction was reduced by about 50% in comparison with the UW group (P < 0.006). The AST level in the PFC group was significantly less than in the UW group after 8 h of preservation (P < 0.048).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The addition of PFC to UW solution significantly decreases the degree of histologic damage in rat DCD liver grafts. This preservation strategy can be potentially helpful for organ preservation after prolonged warm ischemia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania 17033-0850, USA. dbezinover@hmc.psu.edu
authors.forename: Dmitri
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bezinover
authors.forename: Saravanan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ramamoorthy
authors.forename: Todahiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Uemura
authors.forename: Zakiyah
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Kadry
authors.forename: Patrick M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: McQuillan
authors.forename: Berend
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mets
authors.forename: Octavio
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Falcucci
authors.forename: Sharon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rannels
authors.forename: Victor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ruiz-Velasco
authors.forename: Bruce
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Spiess
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: Haresh
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mani
authors.forename: Xi
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Lou
authors.forename: Piotr K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Janicki
mesh_terms: D000241:Adenosine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000493:Allopurinol / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D003643:Death; D005466:Fluorocarbons / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005978:Glutathione / Q000494:pharmacology; D007328:Insulin / Q000494:pharmacology; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D009926:Organ Preservation / Q000379:methods*; D019188:Organ Preservation Solutions / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010477:Perfusion; D011887:Raffinose / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D019737:Transplants
chemical_list: D005466:Fluorocarbons; D007328:Insulin; D019188:Organ Preservation Solutions; C055206:University of Wisconsin-lactobionate solution; D000493:Allopurinol; D005978:Glutathione; D000241:Adenosine; D011887:Raffinose