• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.445-449
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• 2009

For human organ transplantations, histidine-tryptophan-ketoglutarate solution (HTKS) and University of Wisconsin solution (UWS) have been shown to engender similar outcomes as gold standard cold preservation solutions ($4^{\circ}C$). To select the effective preservation solution for cold storage of kidney xenografts in miniature pig, which could be a potential source animal of bio-organs, this study compared early histopathological outcomes of cold preservation injury using HTKS and UWS. Twelve miniature pigs weighing 25.6 to 34.7 kg were divided into two groups (n = 6 per group), UWS group and HTKS group. The kidneys in each group were harvested, cold flushed, and preserved for 0, 24, 48, and 72 hrs at $4^{\circ}C$ with UWS or HTKS, respectively. Histolopathological examinations were assessed on kidney biopsy specimens, taken after each cold storage. The degree of renal injury was scored using 5 different criteria (pyknotic nuclei, disruption of cytoplasm, detachment of epithelium, loss of microvilli, tubular necrosis and loss of glomerular tufts) of the cellular components of the tissue. The degree of kidney damage was increased with prolonged cold ischemia time. UWS and HTKS have at least similar efficacy in kidney preservation within 24 hrs cold preservation time. However, in HTKS group cold-induced injury started to be observed more than in UWS group after 48 hrs of cold storage. In conclusion, UWS and HTKS were equally effective for cold preservation of miniature pig kidney in early preservation times; however, UWS may be more effective at longer preservation times as compared to HTKS.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.40 no.1 s.270
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• pp.8-16
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• 2007

Background: We performed a prospective clinical study to evaluate the ultrastructural integrity of the myocardium after using Histidine-Tryptophan-Ketoglutarate (HTK) solution in comparison with blood cardioplegic solution during congenital heart surgery. Material and Method: Twenty two patients with acyanotic heart disease, who were scheduled for elective open heart surgery, were randomized into two groups. The HTK Group (n=11) received HTK cardioplegic solution; the blood group (n=11) received conventional blood cardioplegic solution during surgery. The preoperative diagnoses included ventricular septal defect (n=9) and atrial septal defect (n=2) in each group. A small biopsy specimen was taken from the right ventricle's myocardium, and this was processed for ultrastructural examination at the end of 30 minutes of reperfusion. Semiquantitative electron microscopy was carried out 'blindly' in 4 areas per specimen and in 5 test fields per area by 'random systematic sampling' and 'point and intersection counting'. The morphology of the mitochondrial membrane and cristae were then scored. The interstitial edema of the myocardium was also graded. Result: The semiquantitative score of the mitochondrial morphology was $19.65{\pm}4.75$ in the blood group and $25.25{\pm}5.85$ in the HTK group (p=0.03). 6 patients (54.5%) in the blood group and 3 patients (27.3%) in the HTK group were grade 3 or more for the interstitial edema of the myocardium. Conclusion: The ultrastructural integrity was preserved even better with HTK solution than with conventional blood cardioplegic solution.