Small bowel tissue high-energy phosphate alterations during hypothermic storage using different protecting solutions.

Since posttransplant function is closely related to energy status after the storage period, the aim of our study was to determine high-energy phosphates in rat small bowels after 21 h of simple ischemic cold storage using different storage solutions. We compared Eurocollins-solution, Bretschneiders-HTK-solution and a modified University of Wisconsin-solution. After flushing the small bowel both intravascularly and intraluminally with the protecting solution, segments of rat small bowel were stored in the same solution at 4 degrees C for 21 h. Determination of high-energy phosphates by high-performance liquid chromatography were done at indicated times. We found that small bowel stored in Eurocollins-solution produced the best graft viability after 21 h of cold storage by maintaining a sufficient level of high-energy phosphates. The high ATP levels were produced by the pronounced anaerobic glycolysis which was facilitated by the high concentration of glucose in the Eurocollins-solution.