Best temperature for static liver graft storage is 1°C

Area of Science:

• Hepatology
• Organ Transplantation
• Preservation Medicine

Background:

• The optimal temperature for preserving donor livers during transplantation is not definitively established.
• Current preservation methods involve static cold storage, but temperature variations may impact graft viability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the ideal static storage temperature for rat livers to optimize post-transplant function.
• To evaluate the impact of different storage temperatures on liver injury markers and cellular integrity.

Main Methods:

• Rat livers were stored for 24 hours in University of Wisconsin solution at +4°C, +1°C, or -0.5°C.
• Livers were then subjected to warm ischemia (or not), reperfused, and assessed for biochemical markers, hepatic resistance, bile flow, and oxygen consumption.

Main Results:

• Storage at +1°C significantly reduced creatine kinase levels and hepatic resistance, especially when warm ischemia was applied, compared to +4°C.
• +1°C storage led to higher bile production and oxygen consumption post-reperfusion compared to +4°C.
• Fewer non-viable nonparenchymal cells and less liver weight gain were observed at +1°C, indicating reduced cellular injury.

Conclusions:

• Static cold storage of rat livers at +1°C enhances post-reperfusion function and minimizes cellular damage compared to +4°C and -0.5°C.
• The primary benefit of +1°C storage is the preservation of sinusoidal cells, crucial for liver health.
• These findings suggest that +1°C may be a superior storage temperature for liver preservation in transplantation.