The effect of cooling rate during perfusion on function and morphology of rabbit kidney grafts.

The effect of cooling of rabbit kidneys during the initial flush with Collins' solution for simple hypothermic storage was studied. After cooling at an average rate of 3.7 degrees C/min. graft function was found to be immediately life-sustaining, and renal morphology after perfusion as well as 30 min. and 24 hours posttransplant was found to be normal. Posttransplant function after cooling at a rate of 7.2 degrees C/min. was significantly lower, permitting survival of only 30% of recipient animals, and damage was seen in proximal tubular cells.