Fundamental metabolic difference between cold stored lungs and livers and kidneys

Short preservation times for lungs, are the main obstacle to exchange organs and increase the number of lung transplantations. In abdominal organ preservation UW solution has extended preservation times by including impermeable anions, adenosine and scavengers to prevent parenchymal cell swelling, to improve ATP regeneration and to inhibit reactive oxygen radicals. Metabolic changes in rabbit lungs, cold stored in UW-solution were compared with changes in rabbit livers and kidneys. Rabbit lungs swell during rewarming after a short storage period as opposed to livers and kidneys. They furthermore accumulate significantly more potassium while maintaining high ATP concentration throughout storage and reperfusion.