Maintenance of functional activity of human pulmonary arteries after cryopreservation

Human intrapulmonary arteries have been investigated in vitro in fresh tissue or after storage at −190°C in foetal calf serum containing 1.8 m dimethyl sulphoxide. After cryopreservation of the arteries, maximal contractile force was reduced to 76%. This was assessed by the responses (in g) to 10 nm of the thromboxane analogue, U 46619. Constricting agonists such as noradrenaline, 5‐hydroxytryptamine, histamine and U 46619 stimulated fresh and frozen/thawed arteries producing pD2 values similar to the respective values determined on fresh tissues. Endothelium‐independent relaxant responses of U 46619‐precontracted arteries to prostacyclin (PGI2), aminophylline and papaverine were generally unchanged after storage. The same was true for relaxant response to the potassium channel activator P‐1075 whereas the pD2 values for SDZ PCO 400, RP 49356 and cromakalim were somewhat diminished. Nevertheless, a significant correlation was obtained when the apparent pD2 values for all agonists on fresh and frozen/thawed tissues were compared (P < 0.001). The evidence suggests that after cryopreservation of human intrapulmonary arteries at −190°C, mechanisms of both contraction and relaxation are well‐maintained.

Maintenance of functional activity of human pulmonary arteries after cryopreservation Journal Articles