Jai Ho Choi1, Jung Eun Lee2, Se Hoon Kim3, Hong-Lim Kim4, Sin Soo Jeun5, Seung Ho Yang6. 1. Department of Neurosurgery, College of Medicine, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea, 222, Banpodaero, Seochogu, Seoul, South Korea. 2. Department of Neurosurgery, College of Medicine, Cell Death Disease Research Center, St. Vincent's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea, 222, Banpodaero, Seochogu, Seoul, South Korea. 3. Department of Pathology, Yonsei University of College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea. 4. Laboratory of Electron Microscope, College of Medicine, Integrative Research Support Center, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, South Korea. 5. Department of Neurosurgery, College of Medicine, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea, 222, Banpodaero, Seochogu, Seoul, South Korea. ssjeun@catholic.ac.kr. 6. Department of Neurosurgery, College of Medicine, Cell Death Disease Research Center, St. Vincent's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea, 222, Banpodaero, Seochogu, Seoul, South Korea. 72ysh@catholic.ac.kr.
Abstract
PURPOSE: Deteriorated pituitary function can lead to serious complications that might need lifelong hormone replacement therapy. However, long-term hormone administration can have significant adverse effects. Thus, it would be more desirable to restore pituitary function by pituitary transplantation. In this study, we investigated functional preservation of extracted pituitary gland in special preservation solution under hypothermic condition for pituitary transplantation. METHODS: We obtained nineteen pituitary glands from 250-300 g male Sprague-Dawley rats via parapharyngeal approach. These extracted glands were divided into three pieces and stored in histidine-tryptophan-ketoglutarate (HTK) solution at 4 °C and compared to their corresponding glands stored in phosphate buffer saline (PBS). Light and electron microscopic examinations were performed to identify morphological changes of pituitary gland at 0,3, and 7 days after storage. TUNEL assay to confirm cell viability, and adenosine-triphosphate (ATP) concentration were also serially examined. RESULTS: Tissue architecture and cellular viability of specimens preserved in HTK solution for 3 days were considerably maintained and similar to those in normal pituitary gland (0 day specimen). In contrast, specimens stored in PBS were markedly destroyed after 3 days of storage. After 7 days of storage, significant degeneration occurred in tissues stored in both HTK and PBS. However, tissue architecture was preserved more in specimens stored in HTK solution than those stored in PBS. ATP concentration decreased more rapidly in specimens stored in PBS solution, but there was no statistical significance (p= 0.055). CONCLUSIONS: Extracted rat pituitary gland supplemented with special preservation solution could be preserved for 3 days under hypothermic condition.
PURPOSE: Deteriorated pituitary function can lead to serious complications that might need lifelong hormone replacement therapy. However, long-term hormone administration can have significant adverse effects. Thus, it would be more desirable to restore pituitary function by pituitary transplantation. In this study, we investigated functional preservation of extracted pituitary gland in special preservation solution under hypothermic condition for pituitary transplantation. METHODS: We obtained nineteen pituitary glands from 250-300 g male Sprague-Dawley rats via parapharyngeal approach. These extracted glands were divided into three pieces and stored in histidine-tryptophan-ketoglutarate (HTK) solution at 4 °C and compared to their corresponding glands stored in phosphate buffer saline (PBS). Light and electron microscopic examinations were performed to identify morphological changes of pituitary gland at 0,3, and 7 days after storage. TUNEL assay to confirm cell viability, and adenosine-triphosphate (ATP) concentration were also serially examined. RESULTS: Tissue architecture and cellular viability of specimens preserved in HTK solution for 3 days were considerably maintained and similar to those in normal pituitary gland (0 day specimen). In contrast, specimens stored in PBS were markedly destroyed after 3 days of storage. After 7 days of storage, significant degeneration occurred in tissues stored in both HTK and PBS. However, tissue architecture was preserved more in specimens stored in HTK solution than those stored in PBS. ATP concentration decreased more rapidly in specimens stored in PBS solution, but there was no statistical significance (p= 0.055). CONCLUSIONS: Extracted rat pituitary gland supplemented with special preservation solution could be preserved for 3 days under hypothermic condition.