Improved biochemical preservation of lung slices during cold storage

Background Development of lung preservation solutions typically requires wh ole-organ models which are animal and labor intensive. These models rely on physiologic rather than biochemical endpoints, making accurate comparison of the relative efficacy of individual solution components difficult. We hy pothesized that lung slices could be used to assess preservation of biochem ical function during cold storage. Materials and methods, Whole rat lungs were precision cut into slices with a thickness of 500 mu m and preserved at 4 degrees C in the following solut ions: University of Wisconsin (UW), Euro-Collins (EC), low-potassium-dextra n (LPD), Kyoto (K), normal saline (NS), or a novel lung preservation soluti on (NPS) developed using this model. Lung biochemical function was assessed by ATP content (eta mol ATP/mg wet wt) and capacity for protein synthesis (cpm/mg protein) immediately following slicing (0 h) and at 6, 12, 18, and 24 h of cold storage. Six slices were assayed at each time point for each s olution. The data were analyzed using analysis of variance and are presente d as means +/- SD Results. ATP content was significantly higher in the lung slices stored in NPS compared with all other solutions at each time point (P < 0.0001). Prot ein synthesis was significantly higher in the lung slices stored in NPS com pared with all other solutions at 6, 12, and 18 h of preservation (P < 0.05 ). Conclusions. This lung slice model allows the rapid and efficient screening of lung preservation solutions and their components using quantifiable bio chemical endpoints, Using this model, we have developed a novel solution th at improves the biochemical preservation of lung slices during cold storage . (C) 2000 Academic Press.