Objective: Experiments were designed to investigate the effect of Euro-Collins (EC) solution and University of Wisconsin (UW) solution on function of pulmonary arterial endothelium.
Methods: Third order canine pulmonary artery segments were preserved in cold (4 degrees C) UW (group 1, n = 8) or EC (group 2, n = 9) solutions for 16 hours. The preserved (group 1 and 2) and control (group 3, n = 7) pulmonary arterial segments with and without endothelium were studied in vitro in organ chambers to measure isometric tension.
Results: The endothelium-dependent relaxation to acetylcholine and adenosine diphosphate of group 1 and 3 were significantly better than those of group 2.
Conclusions: We concluded that endothelium-dependent relaxation of canine pulmonary arterial endothelium to receptor-dependent acetylcholine and adenosine diphosphate were impaired after preservation with Euro-Collins solution. However, endothelium-dependent relaxation of pulmonary segments were well maintained after preservation with University of Wisconsin solution.