Cryoprecipitated plasma perfusion preservation and cold storage preservation of duct-ligated pancreatic allografts.

It has been shown previously that, at least in dogs, a vascularized pancreatic allograft with ligation of the pancreatic duct can maintain normal beta-cell function for at least 5 years. In this study common organ preservation techniques, as used in human cadaveric kidney transplantation, were applied to canine pancreatic allografts to determine the influence of 24-hour preservation on beta-cell function, graft survival and histological appearances. Three groups of dogs were compared: group A consisted of 9 dogs with fresh grafts; group B consisted of 5 dogs who received grafts preserved for 24 hours by pulsatile hypothermic cryoprecipitated plasma perfusion; and group C was composed of 5 animals who received grafts that had been flushed with Collins' solution followed by hypothermic storage for 24 hours. It appeared that both preservation methods were equally effective and that preservation did not alter either the graft's function or its histological appearance. No significant differences after transplantation were observed in the endocrine function tests of the three groups when compared with the preoperative values; neither was there a significant difference in the mean graft survival time between the groups.