Comparison of ultrastructural alteration between the cold-preservation of rat liver with UW solution and that with HTK solution

In the present study we investigated the ultrastracturaldifference between the cold preservation of rat livers with the University of Wisconsin (UW) solution and that with the Histidine Tryptophane Ketogrutarate (HTK) solution. We used male Wistar rats weighing 200 to 250 g in this study. We preserved rat livers for 24hr and 36hr with each of solutions. These preserved livers were observed with Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM). We used two methods for the study. One of them is making vascular cast with resin (Mercox) containing sclerosing agent for SEM by which we observed the structure of sinusoid. The other is the observation of the sinusoidal endothelium, the surface and shape of hepatocytes with SEM, and the endothelial cells lining and inner contents of hepatocytes with TEM. Results were as follows. In the 24 hour preservation there was no apparent morphological difference of hepatocytes between UW group and HTK group. With regard to the architecture of sinusoid, radiated structure was disrupted and its caliber was heterogeneous with UW solution whereas nearly normal structure was maintained with HTK solution. In the 36 hour preservation with UW solution, sinusoidal endothelial cells at almost area were denuded and surface of hepatocytes was coarse, furthermore cytosol was thinner and the most of mitochondria were morphologically changed more than that with HTK solution. Thus,we concluded that the ultra-structural alteration in the liver tissue preserved with HTK solution was less than that of UW solution.