DEUTERIUM OXIDE-BASED UNIVERSITY-OF-WISCONSIN SOLUTION IMPROVES VIABILITY OF HYPOTHERMICALLY STORED VASCULAR TISSUE

Background. Preservation of vascular function largely determines the o utcome of transplantation. We have investigated replacing the water (H 2O) in University of Wisconsin (UW) solution with deuterium oxide (D2O ) in an attempt to improve vascular function after hypothermic storage . Methods. Rat aortic segments were stored in UW solutions based on 10 0% H2O, 25% D2O, 50% D2O, and 100% D2O at 4 degrees C for 24, 48, or 7 2 hr. Vascular function was measured via contraction and endothelium-d ependent relaxation after stimulation with phenylephrine and acetylcho line. Results. UW solution with 25% D2O gave a significant (P<0.05) im provement of contraction and relaxation in comparison with H2O-based U W solution and other concentrations of D2O. Conclusions. Low concentra tions (25%) of D2O-UW solution are significantly superior to the H2O-b ased (i.e., commonly used) equivalent at up to 72 hr. These results su ggest that low concentrations of D2O-UW solution can improve the quali ty of hypothermic storage.