Preservation of canine small bowel by freezing

A total of 133 canine small bowel segments were isolated in 51 dogs according to a previously described technique that permits an in vivo freeze-thaw experiment to be carried out after perfusion with various cryoprotective agents. All control segments (33) survived. One hundred segments were frozen with cold intra-arterial helium and ambient cold nitrogen gas after perfusion with dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), inositol, or glycerol in 5% and 10% concentrations, alone, or combined, and with chlorpromazine and hydrocortisone added. Inositol had no cryoprotective effect. Approximately one half of segments frozen after protection with DMSO and with glycerol alone or combined with inositol survived the freeze-thaw injury and were intact on long-term follow-up.