Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 23, 2026
Normothermic Ex Vivo Pancreas Perfusion for the Preservation of Pancreas Allografts before Transplantation
Published on: July 27, 2022
Organ procurement in experimental pancreas transplantation with minimal microcirculatory impairment
O Drognitz1, E Von Dobschuetz, H Kissler
1Department of General and Visceral Surgery, Albert-Ludwigs University, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany. oliverdrognitz@web.de
Background:
Ischemia-reperfusion injury has been shown to deteriorate microcirculation in experimental pancreas transplantation. However, minor concern was taken on the impact of organ procurement in this condition. We examined the impact of a standardized technique of organ procurement on microcirculation and apoptosis in experimental pancreas transplantation.
Methods:
Male Lewis rats were divided into three groups: sham-operated animals without dissection of the pancreas served as controls (n = 5); animals undergoing nearly total process of organ procurement with the pancreas pedunculated on the aorta and the hepatoduodenal ligament (n = 7), and animals receiving pancreaticoduodenal transplantation. Pancreatic grafts were preserved for 6 h in cold University of Wisconsin solution (n = 7). At 1 and 2 h reperfusion and in time-matched controls, microcirculation was assessed by means of intravital fluorescence microscopy. Tissue samples were obtained after 2 h measurement and DNA breaks of acinar cells were detected by in situ nick end-labeling (TUNEL assay). The apoptotic index (apoptotic cells per high- power fields; hpf) was quantified by microscopic counting of at least 50 hpf.
Results:
Assessment of functional capillary density (FCD) in animals undergoing subtotal process of organ procurement revealed a slight non-significant decrease at 1 and 2 h compared with controls. In addition, leukocyte sticking to postcapillary venules (LAV) as well as the apoptotic index were found slightly increased after organ procurement compared with controls (p > 0.05). However, after pancreas transplantation the apoptotic index and the LAV were significantly increased and the FCD significantly decreased compared with both groups of non-transplanted animals (p < 0.01).
Conclusions:
Our validated technique of organ procurement does not negatively impact microcirculation and apoptosis in experimental pancreas transplantation.
Insights
A standardized organ procurement technique minimally impacts microcirculation and apoptosis in experimental pancreas transplantation. Pancreas transplantation, however, significantly worsens these factors, highlighting the procedure
Area of Science:
- Transplantation research
- Surgical techniques
- Organ preservation
Background:
- Ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) is a known complication in pancreas transplantation, affecting microcirculation.
- The impact of organ procurement procedures on IRI in pancreas transplantation has been under-investigated.
- This study addresses the need to evaluate standardized organ procurement techniques.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the effect of a standardized organ procurement technique on microcirculation and apoptosis in experimental pancreas transplantation.
- To compare outcomes between sham-operated, organ procurement, and transplantation groups.
Main Methods:
- Male Lewis rats were divided into sham-operated, organ procurement, and pancreaticoduodenal transplantation groups.
- Pancreatic grafts were preserved for 6 hours in University of Wisconsin solution.
- Microcirculation was assessed using intravital fluorescence microscopy, and apoptosis was quantified via TUNEL assay at 1 and 2 hours post-reperfusion.
Main Results:
- Subtotal organ procurement showed a non-significant decrease in functional capillary density (FCD) and slight increases in leukocyte adhesion (LAV) and apoptosis.
- Pancreas transplantation led to significant increases in apoptosis and LAV, and a significant decrease in FCD compared to non-transplanted groups (p < 0.01).
- The standardized procurement technique did not significantly worsen microcirculation or apoptosis.
Conclusions:
- The validated organ procurement technique employed in this study does not adversely affect microcirculation or apoptosis.
- Pancreas transplantation itself is the primary driver of significant microcirculatory impairment and increased apoptosis in this model.
- Further research into mitigating IRI post-transplantation is warranted.
