PRESERVATION OF BLADDER TISSUE IN DIFFERENT SOLUTIONS FOR VARYING TIMES

Objectives. To evaluate three popular storage media and the effect of 24-hour cold storage on bladder tissue. Methods. Guinea pig bladders w ere stored in three solutions: UW solution (a media used for transplan t organs), Reznikoff solution (cell culture medium), and Krebs' soluti on with and without aeration. Results. Cell potassium and sodium conce ntrations and total tissue water (a measurement of cell swelling) are important parameters for evaluating tissue damage. Reznikoff solution and Krebs' solution without gases maintained tissues for 24 hours with the least tissue damage; these solutions require no special equipment or attention. Twenty-four hour uninterrupted aeration of Krebs' solut ion caused the greatest degree of cell swelling with possible redistri bution of receptors and required adjustment and regulation of the pres ervation apparatus. UW solution induced dehydration of cells, required the longest recovery period after cold storage, and is far more expen sive than the other solutions. Conclusions. Reznikoff solution caused consistent relative changes in smooth muscle receptors and was superio r to aerated Krebs' and UW solutions for 24-hour bladder tissue storag e. It is unnecessary to aerate Krebs' solution during 24-hour cold sto rage. (C) 1997, Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.