Pancreatic ischemia/reperfusion injury: impact of different preservation temperatures

Pancreatic ischemia/reperfusion injury (IRI) can influence the results after transplantation. Temperature during ischemia can affect IRI. A temperature of 4 degrees C is assumed as optimal for graft preservation. There are no data about the impact of different ischemia temperatures in pancreatic IRI.

Ischemia/reperfusion injury was induced in pancreatic tail segments (2-hour ischemia, 2-hour reperfusion), with rats (7/group) without ischemia served as control. Animals were randomized to the different experimental groups. To achieve the desired temperature (4, 18, or 37 degrees C and 37 degrees C control), pancreatic tail segments were superfused with temperated saline. After reperfusion, microcirculation was observed by intravital fluorescence microscopy. Functional capillary density (FCD), leukocyte adherence in post-capillary venules, and histological damage were analyzed.

In IRI groups, decrease of FCD 1 and 2 hours after reperfusion compared with baseline measurements was significant. Functional capillary density in 4 degrees C was better as compared with 18 and 37 degrees C after reperfusion. Lower adherent leukocytes were seen in 4 and 18 degrees C, compared with 37 degrees C and also to CO. In 4 degrees C, histological damage was lower as compared with 18 and 37 degrees C.

We could demonstrate that also in pancreatic IRI, tissue injury is temperature dependent. Compared with 37 degrees C, although a protective effect is established already at 18 degrees C, more protection is achieved with storage at 4 degrees C. Our data suggest that 4 degrees C has the best protective effect on pancreatic IRI.