EFFECT OF TEMPERATURE ON HEPATIC AND RENAL UPTAKE OF COMPONENTS FROM UNIVERSITY-OF-WISCONSIN SOLUTION

In rat liver and kidney preservation, hepatic and renal uptake of H-3- adenosine, H-3-glutathione, and H-3-raffinose from University of Wisco nsin solution and diffusion to the interstitial space were measured. A t 4 degrees C only 0.38 +/- 0.47% and 2 +/- 0.92% of the total H-3-ade nosine remained in the kidney and in the liver, respectively, but at 3 7 degrees C the amount remaining was 1 +/- 1% and 12 +/- 3% (P < 0.001 ). Hepatic and renal uptake of the impermeant H-3-raffinose was unaffe cted by temperature. During flush out, interstitial accumulation of ad enosine was significantly higher in livers than in kidneys and decreas ed during 24-h cold storage. Glutathione accumulation in the interstit ial space was two orders of magnitude lower than H-3-adenosine accumul ation and comparable to the impermeant raffinose. In summary, the bioa vailability of components of preservation solutions at 4 degrees C is lower than at physiological temperatures, so that the application of c ytoprotectants at 37 degrees C to organ donors, rather than simple add ition to the cold storage solution, might improve cold storage preserv ation of livers and kidneys.