[An evaluation method for organ preservation]

The determination of the active transport of alanine by canine endothelial cells was employed as a parameter to test cellular viability following conservation in vitro at 4 degrees C in Krebs bicarbonate buffer (KB), St. Thomas (ST), Euro-Collins (EC) or University of Wisconsin (UW) solutions. Following 24-hour conservation, active transport values demonstrated that the highest results were obtained with UW solution. At the same time, dog renal cortex slices were also tested under identical conditions and, once again, UW solution proved to be the best. Conservation was then extended to 72 hours and UW solution still afforded maximum protection of cellular viability.