Prolonged pancreas preservation using a simplified UW solution containing polyethylene glycol.

Area of Science:

• Transplantation immunology
• Organ preservation
• Surgical innovation

Background:

• The University of Wisconsin (UW) solution is the current standard for organ preservation.
• Effective preservation is critical for successful organ transplantation.
• There is a need for improved solutions to extend organ viability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of Cardiosol, a modified cardioplegic solution, for pancreas preservation.
• To compare Cardiosol's performance against the UW solution in a rat pancreas transplant model.
• To assess the impact of preservation time on pancreas viability and function.

Main Methods:

• Pancreases were preserved using either Cardiosol or UW solution for up to 48 hours.
• Preserved pancreases were transplanted into streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.
• Post-transplant survival rates and glucose tolerance were monitored.
• Insulin response was measured using intravenous glucose tolerance tests.

Main Results:

• Cardiosol demonstrated significantly superior pancreas preservation compared to UW solution (P < 0.001).
• One-week survival rates were higher with Cardiosol, especially after 36 hours of preservation.
• Cardiosol-preserved pancreases showed normal glucose tolerance and significantly higher insulin response post-transplant.
• No survival was observed with UW solution after 36 hours of preservation.

Conclusions:

• Cardiosol enables prolonged whole organ pancreas preservation in a rat transplant model.
• This modified solution offers a significant advantage over the UW solution for pancreas storage.
• Cardiosol represents a promising alternative for enhancing organ transplantation outcomes.