Osmotic response during kidney perfusion with cryoprotectant in isotonic or hypotonic vehicle solution

Ross M. Warner, Jun Yang, Andrew Drake, Youngjoo Lee, Sarah Nemanic, David Scott, Adam Z. Higgins

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Organ cryopreservation would revolutionize transplantation by overcoming the shelf-life limitations of conventional organ storage. To prepare an organ for cryopreservation, it is first perfused with cryoprotectants (CPAs). These chemicals can enable vitrification during cooling, preventing ice damage. However, CPAs can also cause toxicity and osmotic damage. It is a major challenge to find the optimal balance between protecting the cells from ice and avoiding CPA-induced damage. In this study, we examined the organ perfusion process to shed light on phenomena relevant to cryopreservation protocol design, including changes in organ size and vascular resistance. In particular, we compared perfusion of kidneys (porcine and human) with CPA in either hypotonic or isotonic vehicle solution. Our results demonstrate that CPA perfusion causes kidney mass changes consistent with the shrink-swell response observed in cells. This response was observed when the kidneys were relatively fresh, but disappeared after prolonged warm and/or cold ischemia. Perfusion with CPA in a hypotonic vehicle solution led to a significant increase in vascular resistance, suggesting reduced capillary diameter due to cell swelling. This could be reversed by switching to perfusion with CPA in isotonic vehicle solution. Hypotonic vehicle solution did not cause notable osmotic damage, as evidenced by low levels of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in the effluent, and it did not have a statistically significant effect on the delivery of CPA into the kidney, as assessed by computed tomography (CT). Overall, our results show that CPA vehicle solution tonicity affects organ size and vascular resistance, which may have important implications for cryopreservation protocol design.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article numbere16323
JournalPeerJ
Volume11
DOIs
StatePublished - 2023

Keywords

  • Computed tomography
  • Cryopreservation
  • Cryoprotectant
  • Kidney
  • Lactate dehydrogenase
  • Organ
  • Osmotic
  • Vascular resistance
  • Vitrification

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Neuroscience
  • General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
  • General Agricultural and Biological Sciences

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