Function of cryopreserved pig aortas

Cryopreservation of vascular tissues

“…Under these conditions biochemical viability indices of cryopreserved porcine aortae are similar to those of unfrozen controls 39 but morphologic changes suffer from great variations 46 and functional studies reveal marked attenuation of contractility and no or only negligible endothelium-dependent relaxation in response to acetylcholine. 11,13 Using a high-potassium Tes-buffered solution 47 as vehicle in rabbit carotid arteries optimal preservation of post-thaw contractile function and endothelium-dependent relaxation with a survival rate of 70% for endothelial cells was obtained at the freezing rate of 0.69°C/min. 41 It seems, however, that a potassium-rich vehicle solution is not required since experiments with KH solution gave similar results.…”

“…8 The post-thaw functional activity of a cryopreserved blood vessel is determined by both the cell packing effect and the wall thickness, i.e., cryopreservation efficacy improves with fewer and less packing of cells. For example, in contrast to a nearly complete cryopreservation of both smooth muscle and endothelial function of small and thin intramyocardial resistance arteries only partial preservation of post-thaw vascular function of the larger epicardial coronary arteries can be obtained 9 and cryopreservation of the thick-walled human 10,11 and porcine 12,13 Cryopreservation of vascular tissues Cryopreservation of human blood vessels may become an important tool in bypass surgery and peripheral vascular reconstruction. Ideally cryopreservation of a blood vessel should preserve functional characteristics comparable to those of fresh controls.…”

Mechanics of Fresh, Refrigerated, and Frozen Arterial Tissue

“…Previous experimental investigations demonstrated effects of cold or frozen storage on vessel structure [9 -12] and physiological function [13][14][15][16]. However, studies investigating effects of storage protocols on arterial mechanics are limited and have demonstrated contradictory results.…”