Ultrastructure of Canine Renal Autografts Following 24-Hour Hypothermic Preservation

Abstract

29 canine kidneys were preserved for 24 h by hypothermic, pulsatile or nonpulsatile perfusion with albumin or cryoprecipitated plasma and were autotransplanted. Electron microscopy of biopsies taken at 60 min posttransplantation revealed no significant ultra-structural differences between surviving kidneys preserved with pulsatile or nonpulsatile flow, or between organs preserved with plasma or the albumin solution. Comparison of surviving and nonsurviving grafts, however, revealed conspicuous glomerular ultrastructural changes and the presence of polymorphonuclear leukocytes in the capillaries of the nonsurvivors. These changes appear to be useful in determining graft viability following preservation.