[Principles of organ preservation]

Hypothermia remains the basic principle of all organ preservation. This review shows some main cellular mechanisms involved with normo and hypothermia, particularly during ischemia. Different pathways and target sites concerned in preservation are explained. Commonly used preservation techniques and cold storage solutions are also discussed. Cryopreservation especially vitrification seems to be promising perhaps in the near future; it allows a state of almost a cellular metabolic arrest and consequently a theoretically unlimited preservation time.