Abstract
We investigated the efficacy of University of Wisconsin (UW) solution for its ability
to preserve hearts for 12 hours as compared with the results with modified Collins
(MC) solution. After orthotopic transplantation, hearts stored in the UW solution
(68%) showed significantly (p< 0.05) better recovery of maximum rate of increase of left ventricular pressure than
those stored in the MC solution (41%) (MC group: n = 6, UW group: n = 7). The serum
CPK values 2 hours after reperfusion were significantly (p< 0.01) higher in the MC group (6528 IU/L) than in the UW group (2021 IU/L). Myocardial
adenosine triphosphate (ATP) levels were measured using phosphorus 31 nuclear magnetic
resonance spectroscopy during 12 hours of cold storage (MC group: n = 5, UW group:
n = 4). ATP levels continued to decrease throughout the storage, and fell to 39% (MC
group) and 23% (UW group) of the control after 12 hours with no significant difference.
Significant differences between the two groups were present in water content before
(MC group: 77.6%, UW group: 75.8%;p< 0.05) and after (MC group: 77.6%, UW group: 75.8%;p< 0.025) 12 hours of storage (MC group:n = 6, UW group:n = 5). These results demonstrated that the UW solution was superior to the MC solution
when used to preserve hearts for 12 hours.
