[Experimental studies on functional preservation, conditioning and evaluation of the viability of rabbit kidneys...

Kidney preservation under mild hypothermic conditions (24 degrees C) was performed to preserve organs for a long time, to determine the viability of damaged organs, and to evaluate the viability of organs that have previously been stored in cold solution. Rabbit kidneys were perfused via the renal arteries. The perfusate was composed of glucose, allopurinol, PEG-SOD, adenosine, dexamethasone, insulin, HES and FC-43. This solution was an attempt to simulate the electrolyte constitution of extracellular fluid (pH 7.40 delta pH). The functions of all groups of kidneys were evaluated by measuring urine output, urine pH and urine electrolytes. The suitable perfusion pressure was 80 mmHg. The kidneys without a warm ischemic period were well stored and functioned for over 12 hours under 24 degrees C perfusion. In the warm ischemic groups, the viability and histological structure of the kidneys were well maintained and conditioned for 12 hours at up to 35 min of warm ischemia. The kidneys which were stored in 4 degrees C UW-solution for 24 hours had a good urination using mild hypothermic perfusion for 12 hours. This suggest that mild hypothermic perfusion will become a useful method for preserving the condition of organs and for determining and evaluating the viability of organs that have previously been stored in cold solution.