title: Coconut water solutions for the preservation of spleen, ovary, and skin autotransplants in rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of coconut water in the preservation of spleen, ovary, and skin autotransplantations in rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty female Wistar rats were divided randomly into 5 groups on the basis of the following tissue graft preservation solutions: group 1, lactated Ringer's; group 2, Belzer's solution; group 3, mature coconut water; group 4, green coconut water; and group 5, modified green coconut water. In group 5, the green coconut water solution was modified to obtain the same electrolyte composition as Belzer's solution. The spleen, ovaries, and a skin fragment were removed from each animal, stored for 6 hours in one of the solutions, and then re-implanted. The recoveries of tissue functions were assessed 90 days after surgery by means of spleen scintigraphy and blood tests. The implanted tissues were collected for histological analyses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Higher immunoglobulin G levels were observed in the animals of group 5 than in the animals of group 1. Differences in follicle-stimulating hormone levels were observed between groups 1 and 2 (P < .001), between groups 4 and 2 (P = .03), and between groups 5 and 2 (P = .01). The spleen scintigraphy results did not differ among the groups. The ovarian tissue was better preserved in the mature coconut water group (P < .007).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Solutions containing coconut water allowed for the preservation of the spleen, ovaries, and skin for 6 hours, and the normal functions of these tissues were maintained in rats.
authors.affiliation: Surgery Department of Minas Gerais Federal University, Belo Horizonte, Brazil. Electronic address: jorgemiguels@ig.com.br.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Schettino César
authors.affiliation: Surgery Department of Minas Gerais Federal University, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Petroianu
authors.affiliation: Clinical Pathology Department of Minas Gerais University, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: de Souza Vasconcelos
authors.affiliation: Pharmacology Department of Minas Gerais University, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.
authors.forename: V N
authors.initials: VN
authors.lastname: Cardoso
authors.affiliation: Pharmacology Department of Minas Gerais University, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: das Graças Mota
authors.affiliation: Pathology Department of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.
authors.forename: A J A
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Barbosa
authors.affiliation: Pharmacology Department of Minas Gerais University, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.
authors.forename: C D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Vianna Soares
authors.affiliation: Surgery Department of Minas Gerais Federal University, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lima de Oliveira
mesh_terms: D000241:Adenosine; D000493:Allopurinol; D000818:Animals; D064592:Autografts; D003059:Cocos; D004573:Electrolytes; D005260:Female; D005978:Glutathione; D007328:Insulin; D007552:Isotonic Solutions; D009926:Organ Preservation; D019188:Organ Preservation Solutions; D010053:Ovary; D011887:Raffinose; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D000077325:Ringer's Lactate; D012867:Skin; D016038:Skin Transplantation; D013154:Spleen; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous
chemical_list: D004573:Electrolytes; D007328:Insulin; D007552:Isotonic Solutions; D019188:Organ Preservation Solutions; D000077325:Ringer's Lactate; C055206:University of Wisconsin-lactobionate solution; D000493:Allopurinol; D005978:Glutathione; D000241:Adenosine; D011887:Raffinose