Viability of cells in cryopreserved canine cardiovascular organs for transplantation

To determine applicability of the cryopreservation procedure for vessel gra fts, the viability of endothelial cells (ECs) among the whole cells in thre e kinds of organs artery, vein, trachea in mongrel dogs was evaluated on th e basis of histological analysis. The Griffonia simplicifolia agglutins - f luorescein isothiocyanate (GSA-FITC) and propidium iodide (PI) double stain ing methods were combined with flow cytometry (FCM), which was able to simu ltaneously determine the viability of whole cells and ECs from the same tis sue, were performed after harvesting, after antibiotic solution treatment, and after cryopreservation and thawing. In most cases, the viability of ECs is lower than that of whole cells from veins and arteries. The viability o f whole cells in veins was maintained until the antibiotic solution treatme nt and then decreased significantly after cryopreservation and thawing, whi le the ECs began to decrease significantly after the antibiotic solution tr eatment and more markedly decreased after thawing. The viability of ECs and whole cells from arteries was similar to chat of the veins' conditions. Th e viability of whole cells from the trachea decreased with a similar patter n to that of the ECs from vessels. In consideration of maintaining cell via bility among the three kinds of organs, the viability of arteries was bette r than that of the others. The cells in the trachea demonstrated a lower vi ability than the vessels. The effect of antibiotic solution: treatment on t he reduction of cell viability depends on the treatment time and temperatur e.