Use of an isolated pancreatic graft (ex vivo) of swine as model for drug studies

An ex vivo model for reperfusion of laryngotracheal grafts

OBJECTIVE

To describe the development of an ex vivo model to facilitate the study of ischemia-reperfusion injury in laryngotracheal grafts taken from Minnesota minipigs.

STUDY DESIGN

This is a descriptive study.

METHODS

Laryngotracheal grafts from Minnesota minipigs were harvested and placed in cold storage for 3 hours. Autologous blood was used to reperfuse the graft for up to 8 hours using the described reperfusion model.

RESULTS

By altering retrieval technique and pressures within the graft, we demonstrated healthy grafts after 8 hours of reperfusion.

CONCLUSIONS

Ex vivo reperfusion offers a range of experimental advantages over in vivo reperfusion including close control of interventions, ease of outcome measurement, and reduction in animal use. This model is now ready to be used for further studies of interventions to reduce ischemia-reperfusion injury in these grafts.