A Comparison Study of Rat Pancreas Preservation using Perfluorochemical and Fluorocarbon-Emulsxon as Preservation Medium

We reported previously the successful 72-hour cold rat pancreas preservation by using Perfluorochemical (PFC). The present study is to determine whether Fluorocarbon (FC) emulsion is as effective as PFC for long-term rat pancreas preservation. Lewis rat pancreases were stored in FC emulsion (4 degrees C) saturated by continuous supply of oxygen:carbon dioxide (95%:5%) (Group I) or by 100% pure nitrogen (Group II), or in PFC (4 degrees C) saturated by continuous supply of oxygen:carbon dioxide (95%:5%) (Group III) or nitrogen (Group IV) for 24 h and 48 h. Heterotopic pancreas transplantation into isogeneic diabetic rats were performed following preservation. Functional graft success rates following 24 h and 48 h cold storage were 71% (5/7) and 0% (0/5) in Group I, 71% (5/7) and 0% (0/5) in Group II, 100% (5/5) and 80% (4/5) in Group III, and 80% (4/5) and 0% (0/5) in Group IV, respectively. These results showed that, as an artificial blood substitute, the PFC with simple oxygen bubbling for 48-hour preservation of rat pancreas was much effective than FC emulsion, but not effective when saturated with nitrogen. We concluded that the PFC with saturated oxygen can obtain long-term successful preservation of rat pancreas. The direct oxygenation of the graft tissues is thought to play an important role in organ preservation.