Limited Penetration of Perfluorocarbon in Porcine Pancreas Preserved by Two-Layer Method with Fluorine Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy and Headspace Gas Chromatography

• Main Authors: Aditya Agrawal, Po-Wah So, Andy Penman, Steve Powis, Brian Davidson, Martin Press, Barry Fuller
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: SAGE Publishing 2010-08-01
• Series: Cell Transplantation
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.3727/096368910X491789
• ISSN: 0963-6897; 1555-3892

The mechanism of the two-layer method (TLM) of pancreas preservation is unclear. Facilitating oxygen diffusion into preserved pancreas has been suggested, but direct measurements of tissue pO 2 have yielded conflicting results. The degree of penetration of perfluorocarbon (PFC) into the pancreas during TLM storage is unknown. Segments of porcine pancreas (7.5 cm in length) were preserved either in University of Wisconsin solution (UW) alone ( n = 6) or in TLM for 24 h ( n = 6). Pancreatic samples were analyzed using Varian INOVA 9.4T MR scanner. External PFC standard was introduced for quantification. Four consecutive transverse images of 4 mm thickness were obtained using a spin-echo sequence. 19 Fluorine magnetic resonance spectroscopy ( 19 F MRS) was performed with the same parameters except with more averages. MR data were confirmed by headspace chromatography. PFC standard was readily detected in 19 F MR images. There was no signal from pancreas in 19 F MR images following either UW or TLM storage. 19 F MR spectra typical of PFC were not obtained from either UW- or TLM-preserved pancreas with nonlocalized 19 F MRS. Mean concentration of PFC in TLM pancreas measured by head space chromatography was 0.011 nl/g (SD ±0.006), not significantly different from background concentration (0.012 nl/g, SD ±0.006) in UW pancreas ( p = 0.42). There was no evidence of penetration of PFC into pancreas tissues investigated either by MR or chromatography in organs preserved at hypothermia by TLM, and mechanisms of TLM remain speculative.