METABOLIC VIABILITY (MV) OF KIDNEY TUBULES AFTER HYPOTHERMIC PRESERVATION (HP) IN DIFFERENT PRESERVATION SOLUTIONS

Abstract

It is generally assumed that the survival of kidneys preserved for transplantation is limited by deterioration of cellular metabolism that occurs during HP in pure electrolyte solutions. The alternative use of species-specific serum (SSS) has proved to be difficult. The present study was designed to find whether other solutions could reduce the metabolic changes. Methods: Glucose production (GP) of isolated rat kidney tubules was used as MV test. Kidney tubules were preserved up to 24 hrs at 8°C in different solutions(I: Collins; II: Krebs-Henseleit; III: bovine serum; IV: rat serum; V: filtered fraction of IV with mol. wt.< 10,000). Solutions I and II were also tested after addition of different substrates (amino acids and fatty acids). The results were compared to the values obtained from fresh kidney tubules (100%). Results: GP was 4% in I, 31% in II, 46% in III, rising to 101% in IV and to 85% in V. Addition of substrates resulted in moderate increase in II (up to 50%) and no change in I and III. Conclusions: Whereas addition of substrates can improve the MV of kidneys, optimal preservation can be obtained only with SSS or its filtered fraction - a better alternative to pure electrolyte solutions.