Comparison of cold storage and perfusion of dog livers on function of tissue slices.

We compared how two methods of hypothermic preservation affect physiological functions of tissue slices of dog liver. Livers were preserved by either (i) cold storage (CS) in Collins' solution or (ii) continuous perfusion (P) with a perfusate, containing hydroxyethyl starch, sodium gluconate, adenosine, and potassium phosphate, recently developed in our laboratory. Livers were cold stored for 6 to 8, 24, or 48 hr, and perfused for 24 or 72 hr. Tissue slices of preserved livers were incubated at 30 degrees C and analyzed for volume control, electrolyte-pump activity (K and Na), and adenine nucleotide concentration. Also, mitochondria were isolated after preservation to quantify respiratory activity. Slice functions of livers preserved for short periods (6 to 8 hr by CS and 24 hr by P) were similar to those for control livers. After normothermic incubation, the mean (+/- SD) water content of tissue (expressed per unit dry mass of tissue) was 2.3 +/- 0.3 kg/kg for control, 2.6 +/- 0.4 kg/kg for 6- to 8-hr CS, and 2.5 +/- 0.5 kg/kg for 24-hr P. Longer periods of preservation resulted in cell swelling, and water content was 3.3 +/- 0.4 kg/kg for 24- to 48-hr CS and 2.8 +/- 0.3 kg/kg for 72-hr P. The mean (+/- SD) K/Na ratio was nearly normal for livers preserved for short periods: 3.7 +/- 0.5 for control, 4.1 +/- 0.2 for 6- to 8-hr CS, and 3.3 +/- 0.4 for 24-hr P.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)