Functional, biochemical and morphological studies on human bronchi after cryopreservation

摘要

1 Human isolated bronchi have been investigated as fresh tissue or after storage (7 and 30 days) at -196℃ in foetal calf serum containing 1.8 M dimethyl sulphoxide. 2 After cryopreservation, the maximal contractile response to acetylcholine (3 mM) was reduced (≈25%) but the difference did not reach significance statistically. Maximal responses to other spasmogens tested (histamine, [Nle~(10)]NKA(4-10), bradykinin, leukotriene D_4, U46619, and KCl) did not differ between unfrozen and frozen/thawed tissues. The sensitivity of cyropreserved tissues to the constrictor agents tested was similar to that of fresh tissues. 3 The accumulation of inositol phosphates produced by acetylcholine in human bronchus in vitro was similar in fresh and cyrostored (30 days) tissues. 4 Relaxant responses of acetylcholine (0.3 μM)-precontracted preparations to theophylline, isoprena-line, rolipram and sodium nitroprusside were unchanged after storage with the exception of the sensitivity to rolipram which was diminished in the 30-days cryostorage group. 5 Light microscopic examination of sections taken from 30 days cryostored tissues indicates that the epithelium, submucosal tissue and smooth muscle were well preserved. 6 These experiments suggest that cryopreservation of human bronchi results in maintenance of several morphological, functional (contraction/relaxation) and biochemical properties.