X-Message-Number: 3788
From: 
Date: Fri, 3 Feb 1995 14:10:00 -0500
Subject: SCI.CRYONICS research

Drs. Yuri Pichugin and Gennadi Zhegunov have completed work on the second
sheep head, verifying the first. 

These were washed out, perfused with glycerol-based cryoprotectant, cooled to
liquid nitrogen temperature, then warmed back up to room temperature by the
methods Cryonics Institute found best in its own sheep head work--including
much slower cool-down and warm-up than usually used. Results were generally
good, with some exceptions; and in particular no cracking of tissues was
observed at any level. We have not yet received the light microscope and
electron microscope photos, but the report will be published in the March
issue of THE IMMORTALIST, mailed probably around Feb. 20.

Several follow-up and extended studies are in the planning stages, including
work with rabbit brains and with fresh human brain slices and including
studies of electrical activity in thawed brains. 

We also hope, in cooperation with Alcor and BioPreservation and others, to
have each organization or team evaluate the work of the others, hoping
gradually to arrive at a consensus on the merits and
drawbacks of various approaches and establish an objective basis for
cost/benefit analysis. 

Eventually, Cryonics Institute hopes to offer a full range of options,
offering some hope to people of very limited means and also allowing those
who can afford it to choose expensive options even if those contribute only
questionably to the patient's overall chances. Meanwhile we offer those
procedures, within our capabilities,  that we think stike the best
cost/benefit balance.

Robert Ettinger
Cryonics Institute


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