Protection of mitochondria during cold storage of liver and following transplantation: comparison of the two solutions, University of Wisconsin and Eurocollins
Abstract Injury to allografts during ischaemia/reperfusion
contribute to the development of graft failure following transplantation
with significant morbidity and mortality to patients.
The development of University ofWisconsin solution
has significantly improved the quality of graft preservation
and transplant outcome relative to formerly used solutions
such as Eurocollins. The aim of this study was to further
characterize mitochondrial structural and functional alterations
occurring in rat livers following cold storage and
transplantation. Mitochondrial impairment after prolonged
storage in Eurocollins included decreased cyt. c+c1, cyt. b
and cyt. a+a3 concentration and dramatic falls in the activities
of the respiratory chain enzymes ubiquinol-cyt. c
oxidoreductase and cytochrome oxidase. Under the same
conditions the highest hydroperoxide but lowest vitamin E
concentrations were also found. Although both the Eurocollins
and University of Wisconsin preservation solutions
have limitations in preventing oxidative injuries following
cold storage and reperfusion, our data indicate that mitochondrial
impairment was higher in Eurocollins- than
in University of Wisconsin-stored livers. Further improvements
are necessary in maintaining the stability of mitochondria
in order to optimize preservations solutions used in
transplantations