X-Message-Number: 6447
From: Brian Wowk <>
Date: Fri, 5 Jul 1996 11:35:24 -0500
Subject: SCI.CRYONICS South African Research

Anatole Dolinoff <> writes on CryoNet:

>Referring
>to the information posted by Dirk du Plessis # 5674 Jan 1996, stating that

>VISSER's article on rat heart cryopreservation was rejected by CRYOBIOLOGY 
seems
>to be incorrect.

>I have
>managed to locate Mrs Olga VISSER, who confirmed that the article was never
>rejected, as stated by du Plessis, but had been returned for additional
>information in February and again in June this year.

	Whether the article was rejected (and later resubmitted) or
simply sent back for major revisions is unimportant.  What is important
is that there were apparently major deficiencies in the first version.  

>Mrs Olga VISSER informed me that to date she has
>successfully frozen/thawed 45 rats to 77 KELVINS (minus 196 deg C) with her
>technique.

	You mean now she says that she can bring back *entire rats* 
(not just rat hearts) from liquid nitrogen temperature?  I'm sorry,
but I don't believe it.  This is the cryobiological equivalent of
a trip to the moon in 1900.  Extraordinary claims require
extraordindary evidence.  Press releases and private communications 
are not evidence. 

	I think it's unfortunate that Mrs. Visser is again reporting
breakthroughs outside the scientific literature.  This is a
continuation of the pattern followed with the rat heart work:
Make dramatic claims first, and then publish later.  This is not
the way science should be done. 

>Hopefully, we shall see publication of this article
>in the near future !

	Indeed. 
 
	Also, I would caution cryonicists that this group's method
apparently involves flash freezing (extremely rapid cooling).  If
so, even if the method works, it may not be extendable to larger
animals or organs. 
                                   
***************************************************************************
Brian Wowk          CryoCare Foundation               1-800-TOP-CARE
President           Human Cryopreservation Services   
   http://www.cryocare.org/cryocare/

Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=6447