Effects of preservation solutions on cortical and medullary mitochondria of rat kidney

The mitochondria isolated from cortex and medulla of rat kidneys were examined after storage in either Euro-Collins solution, in Bretschneider's histidine-tryptophan-ketoglutarat solution or in Belzer's University of Wisconsin solution at 25 degrees C or at 4 degrees C for a maximum of 4 to 24 hrs. Independently to the preservation of the solution used, the storage of the kidneys led to a decrease in state 3 respiration and uncoupled respiration as well as to an increase in the rate of state 4 respiration. The decrease in state 3 respiration ran parallelly to a decrease in adenine nucleotides. For the homogeneous protection of the mitochondria as well from the cortex as from the medulla, the Bretschneider's solution had the best preservative effect at a storage temperature of 25 degrees C as shown by the measured mitochondrial parameters. At 4 degrees C storage temperature, the differences in action with the various examined solutions were markedly smaller. However, compared to the other two solutions, the Euro-Collins solution showed a more favourable protective effect on cortical and medullary mitochondria.