VITRIFICATION OF PRECISION-CUT RAT-LIVER SLICES

Previous studies have suggested vitrification as an appropriate method for long-term storage of tissues and this has recently been applied t o preservation of human liver slices. I report the use of a cassette d esigned to store slices of liver or other tissues in combination with the previously described vitrification technique. Using 7-ethoxycoumar in and 7-hydroxycoumarin as markers of drug metabolising activity, I d emonstrate the use of this apparatus and method over 1hr and 24hr stor age with rat liver slices in liquid nitrogen.