X-Message-Number: 10725
Date: Mon, 9 Nov 1998 07:23:26 -0500
From: Thomas Donaldson <>
Subject: CryoNet #10718 - #10724

Hi everyone!

About trehalose: the really critical experiment for LONG TERM
cryopreservation remains to be done. How well does trehalose aid
other cryoprotectants in preserving organs (particularly brains!)
during long term storage in liquid nitrogen? Can it help protect
vitrified organs? 

These are the questions we need to ask for cryonics. Successful
storage for only a few months will hardly allow those stored to
last long enough for a cure for their condition, and means for their
rejuvenation.

I haven't done a literature search on trehalose as an aid to 
cryoprotection. However other substances which apparently act the
same haven't really helped long term cryopreservation. I am prepared
to reserve judgement here, but the question still remains unanswered.
Sufficient interest on Cryonet would even cause me to do a literature
search, but others can do that too. And the utility of trehalose for
long term storage is important.

The reason for this is simple. Even at a few degrees below 0 C,
there is slow deterioration. Sure, it's hardly as fast as at room
temperature, but when we start talking in terms of YEARS it will
show up. To prevent it you have to go much lower. And yes, an ability
to store organs for transplant even as long as a month remains an
important advance. Yet we'll still need much longer storage for
our purposes.

			Best and long long life to all,

				Thomas Donaldson

Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=10725