Storage of trachea for X-ray microanalytical studies of tracheal submucosal glands

Pig trachea is a good model system to study airway fluid transport with relevance to human diseases such as cystic fibrosis, since both in pig and in man, the submucosal glands play a quantitatively important role in fluid secretion. Pig trachea can be easily obtained from the local slaughterhouse. In the present study, we investigated the procedure to transport the tissue from the slaughterhouse to the laboratory where physiological experiments can be carried out. Transport of the tissue in a solution with high K+ content (resembling the intracellular environment) maintained the morphology of the glands and a high intracellular K/Na ratio. Physiological experiments can be carried out in solutions with a high Na+ concentration resembling the extracellular environment. The glands secrete chloride on stimulation with alpha-adrenergic, beta-adrenergic, cholinergic and peptidergic agonists. Transport and temporary storage of tissue in high K+ solutions expands the scope of possible X-ray microanalytical studies in the field of pathophysiology.