Short term hypothermic perfusion for intestinal preservation with dimethyl sulfoxide.

Morphologic changes, resulting from intracellular or extracellular perfusates with dimethyl sulfoxide as a cryophylactic agent, are similar and probably due to the anoxic period, after short term perfusion. These changes are temporary and are followed by complete recovery. No statistically significant changes in disaccharidase activity between intracellular and extracellular perfusates are found in the jejunal mucosa. No differences are found between normal disaccharidase activity and values obtained experimentally. Results of this study support the suggestion that vascular endothelial damage, as observed in evaluations utilizing the electron microscope, is certainly an important factor in the limitation of perfusion techniques of the intestine.