X-Message-Number: 6162
From:  (David L Evens)
Newsgroups: sci.cryonics
Subject: Re: Cryopreservation field
Date: 4 May 1996 22:42:18 GMT
Message-ID: <4mgmga$>
References: <> <4mgek2$>

RAMole () wrote:
: The journal Cryobiology, available at the U. of Colorado library and
: probably somewhere near you, is the best source I've found.  There was
: also a book with a title something like "Engineering Challenges in
: Cryobiology (or maybe Low Temperature Tissue Preservation)", that was a
: good summary, albeit from the late 80's.

: Basically, crystalized ice is the enemy, vitrification is good, and they
: can freeze aortas and have them function (help pump blood) to about 80%
: original efficiency most of the time.  But they can't do larger organs
: yet.  I think there was claim recently that some doctor in South Africa
: had frozen and revived a whole (cow?) heart, but I'm not sure this was
: ever confirmed or anyone else was able to repeat the experiment. (I think
: it was discussed here but that thread had expired when I looked again.)  

: My overall impression is they're stuck where they were 10 years ago, still
: wishing they could freeze organs for storage and later transplant.

There has been a good deal of progress toward reversible vitrification of 
whole organs, with rabbit kidneys being used as models.  Kidneys have 
been removed from rabbits, vitrified for a few weeks, implanted, and 
functioned well enough to support the animal after the other kidney was 
removed.

This has only been done to about -40 C at this time, because beuracratic 
nonsense is holding up the colabaration of two scientists who each own 
critical pices of the technology needed to experiment with vitrification 
and rewarming techniques that can be used for LN2-temperature vitrification.

 ---------------------------+--------------------------------------------------
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