EFFECTIVENESS OF CAROLINA RINSE SOLUTION AFTER COLD ISCHEMIC STORAGE OF RAT LIVERS - BIOCHEMICAL AND HISTOLOGICAL ANALYSIS USING PERFUSION MODEL

Using a rat liver perfusion model, the effectiveness of Carolina rinse solution was assessed for the prevention of reperfusion injury after 48 h of cold storage in UW solution. Transaminase levels (GOT, GPT and LDH) of the perfusate were significantly higher in the Ringer group ( 17 +/- 8, 17 +/- 9 and 191 +/- 97 IU/I, respectively) than in the Caro lina group (6 +/- 4, 5 +/- 4 and 21 +/- 20 IU/I) (p < 0.05). The level s of oxygen consumption were also higher in the Carolina group (233 +/ - 54 mm Hg) than in the Ringer group (164 +/- 58 mm Hg) (p < 0.05). Hi stological examination showed severe parenchymal cell damage in the Ri nger group, whereas the damage was slight in the Carolina group. Two n ewly developed monoclonal antibodies, REC16-11 and REC4-1, which speci fically react with rat endothelial cells, were used for immunohistoche mical studies of the livers. The endothelial cells of central vein and sinusoids were more severely damaged in the Ringer group than in the Carolina group. The present study suggests that Carolina rinse solutio n is useful for prevention of liver damage from reperfusion injury aft er cold storage of the graft for organ transplantation.