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Evidence for two modes of hypothermia damage in five cell lines
J Kruuv1, D J Glofcheski, J R Lepock
1Guelph-Waterloo Program for Graduate Work in Physics, University of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.
Cryobiology
|April 1, 1995
Summary
Hypothermia causes cell damage through two distinct mechanisms, varying with temperature. The optimal aerobic storage temperature for human cells and tissues is between 5 and 10 degrees C, not 0 degrees C.
Area of Science:
- Cellular biology
- Biophysics
- Cryobiology
Background:
- Hypothermia is used for preserving cells and tissues.
- Understanding hypothermic damage mechanisms is crucial for optimizing storage.
- Previous studies suggested a single damage mechanism in Chinese hamster cells.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the mechanisms of hypothermic damage in various mammalian cell lines.
- To determine the optimal aerobic hypothermic storage temperature for human cells and tissues.
Main Methods:
- Arrhenius plots were used to analyze inactivation (killing) rates.
- Five mammalian cell lines were exposed to hypothermia: V-79 Chinese hamster lung, mouse L-929, mouse neuroblastoma, human 18LU, and human erythrocytes.
- Inactivation rates were measured under aerobic conditions.
Main Results:
- Arrhenius plots revealed a break between 5 and 10 degrees C for all cell lines.
- This break indicates a change in the slope, signifying a minimum inactivation rate.
- Two distinct mechanisms of hypothermic damage were identified above and below this temperature range.
Conclusions:
- The biphasic nature of hypothermic damage is not unique to Chinese hamster cells.
- The findings suggest that the optimal aerobic hypothermic storage temperature for human cells and tissues is between 5 and 10 degrees C.
- Current storage practices at 0 degrees C may not be optimal for preserving human cells and tissues.