Eicosanoid production by frozen tissue in vitro is markedly changed

The influence of storing deep frozen human tissue specimens on their eicosanoid production in tissue culture was evaluated. Pieces of placenta and fetal membranes (n = 6) were divided and part processed immediately after obtaining the tissues, part after being kept at -20 degrees C for some days. Eicosanoid production was studied in tissue culture with incubation in oxygenated Hank's balanced salt solution (HBSS) at 37 degrees C for 1 h. Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), prostacyclin (PGI2), thromboxane A2 (TXA2) and leukotriene B4 (LTB4) production were significantly different in the tissues frozen prior to the incubation. This should be considered when interpreting eicosanoid synthesis in tissue cultures for their significance in vivo.