X-Message-Number: 9718
From: Ettinger <>
Date: Fri, 15 May 1998 19:08:22 EDT
Subject: Pichugin's recent work

Dr. Yuri Pichugin in the Ukraine has completed a series of cat head
experiments for the Immortalist Society and the Cryonics Institute, with two
objectives. One was to test DMF (dimethyl formamide) as a brain cryoprotectant
generally, comparing its effectiveness to that of glycerol. The other was to
test cracking limits both with glycerol and DMF. 

The upshot is that, with the concentrations and cooling/warming rates used,
DMF results are not as good as glycerol results. 

As used, DMF is more toxic than glycerol. If concentration is increased from
30% to 40% there is partial precipitation of salts from physiological
solutions. Optimum concentrations of DMF are 20%-30%. Cat brains with DMF had
microcracks, macrocracks, and ice holes.

Dr. Pichugin thinks Mrs. Visser's method is probably only effective for small
masses of muscle tissue that can be cooled and warmed rapidly. He thinks it
still may be possible to perfect her method even to apply to human hearts, but
only as a possibility after a large and expensive effort.

The text of Dr. Pichugin's reports will appear before long on our web site.

We also expect in a couple of weeks to have the full photo sets from the 1994
work.

Robert Ettinger
Cryonics Institute
Immortalist Society
http://www.cryonics.org

Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=9718