Effects of glucose on rat lung preservation: report of a study conducted on an isolated lung reperfusion model utilizing. Another isolated lung as a "deoxygenator".

We describe herein a new experimental model in which an isolated rat lung was ventilated with a mixture of 95% nitrogen and 5% carbon dioxide to decrease the oxygen and increase the carbon dioxide in the perfused blood to create and maintain a gas composition similar to that of venous blood. By utilizing this system as a "deoxygenator," pulmonary functions, including gas exchange, could be measured for at least 60 min in isolated and preserved lungs on reperfusion. When the effects of glucose in the flushing and storage solution were examined, 5 mM glucose in the solution resulted in better preservation of the lung, as shown by a higher uptake of oxygen and a lower intratracheal pressure, than when no glucose was given. However, the presence of 50 mM glucose was not beneficial, but rather increased the wet/dry weight ratio of the tissue.