Summary
There is controversy over the role of oxygen free radical-induced damage in preserved organs following reperfusion. Furthermore, there has been no definative study that shows a dramatic improvement in organ functions, delayed graft functions, or improved longeviety in organ transplants with oxygen free radical scavenger therapy. However, the presence of glutathione in a new organ preservation solution (University of Wisconsin, UW, solution) yields improved preservation of the liver and heart. The beneficial effect of glutathione may involve in scavenging of cytotoxic products of oxygen metabolism. The results discussed here show that glutathione improves liver preservation. Also, it is shown that glycine, an amino acid component of glutathione, can also give cytoprotection to the rabbit and dog liver tested by either isolated perfusion or orthotopic transplantation. Thus, there may be an involvement of oxygen free radicals in damage to organs hypothermically preserved and transplanted. The injury my occur within the cells or may be due to oxygen free radicals generated in the extracellular environment.
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Abbreviations
- UW solution:
-
University of Wisconsin solution
- AST:
-
amino acid transferase
- LDH:
-
Lactate dehydrogenase
- GSH:
-
glutathione
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Supported by NIH grant 35143
Manuscripts published in this issue were the matter of a Symposium held at the University of Ulm, April 24–27, 1991
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Southard, J.H., den Butter, B., Marsh, D.C. et al. The role of oxygen free radicals in organ preservation. Klin Wochenschr 69, 1073–1076 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01645161
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01645161