Seventy-two-hour preservation of the canine pancreas by the two-layer (Euro-Collins' solution/perfluorochemical) cold storage method.

A 72-hr preservation of canine pancreas by a 2-layer (Euro-Collins'/Perfluorochemical) cold storage method was tested in the canine model of segmental pancreas autotransplantation. The functional recovery of the grafts by this method (group 1) was determined by daily fasting blood glucose concentration and intravenous glucose tolerance test at 2 weeks after autotransplantation and compared with simple cold storage with Euro-Collins' solution (group 2) and control (no preservation) (group 3). Maintenance of normoglycemia for at least 5 days after transplantation was considered a successful preservation. The functional success rates after 72-hr preservation were 100%, 0%, and 100% for groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively. The mean K values of group 1 after 72-hr preservation was 1.78 +/- 0.42 compared with 2.05 +/- 0.32 for group 3 at 2 weeks after transplantation. Biopsies of grafts of group 2 after 72-hr preservation showed remarkable autolytic changes in exocrine and endocrine tissues. In contrast, biopsies of grafts of group 1 after 72-hr preservation showed almost normal architecture in both tissues. In addition, biopsies of 72-hr preserved grafts of group 1 at 4 weeks after after autotransplantation showed almost normal pancreas architecture with minimal fibrotic changes in the exocrine tissue. This study demonstrated the possibility of 72-hr preservation of the pancreas for transplantation.