Pathological changes of amputated limbs of rats preserved with UW solution or HTK solution perfusion

Objective To find out a more suitable solution for amputated limbs preservation by comparing two common organ preservation solution. Methods Forty adult female healthy Wistar rats, weighted 250 - 300g, were provided by the Experimental Animal Center of the Academy of Science and Military of PLA.Rats were randomly divided into 4 groups (10 rats in each group) to establish the models of amputated limbs.Rats in the first group were perfused with saline, the second group with HTK solution, the third group with UW solution, and rats in the fourth group were not perfused with any solution, as the control group.All groups were preserved in the refrigerator at 4℃ for 24 h, and the first three groups were perfused at the speed of 12 ml/h for 1 h just after the amputation.Specimens of muscle tissue were taken for pathological (HE and PTAH) examination every 6 hours. Results During the cryopreservation, the pathological changes of muscle tissue were less severe in perfusion groups than non-perfusion group.Among the three perfusion groups, the third group (with UW solution) had the lowest degree of pathological change.The area of cell had statistically significant differences between each group, and non-perfusion group had the smallest area of cell 43.93%±12.16% (6 h), 38.41%±6.54% (12 h), 35.27%±7.75% (18 h), 36.24%±7.09% (24 h), P＜ 0.05.The saline-perfusion group had the largest area of cell within 12 hours 92.54%±3.26% (6 h), 59.35%±4.64% (12 h), while after 12 h, UW-perfusion group reached to the top 51.95%±10.35% (18 h), 47.56%±7.04% (24 h). Conclusion Compared with HTK solution and saline, UW solution has the best protective effect on amputated limbs during 24 h preservation.