Researchers have moved one step closer to being able to freeze human organs designated for transplant at a later date. One of the major obstacles of organ transplantation is that the organ has to be transplanted within a few hours of being removed from the donor, however researchers in Canada have reported that they have successfully transplanted rat ovaries that had been frozen in liquid nitrogen. Previous attempts at freezing organs have failed, mainly because chemicals used in the freezing process damaged delicate blood vessels. However, Dr Roger G Gosden and his colleagues believe that they have overcome this problem by infusing the organs in a protective fluid, slowly cooling them, and then storing them in liquid nitrogen. Although study results show that the technique is not perfect and needs refining, as just over 50% of the seven transplants carried out with frozen ovaries were successful, compared with 100% of those using “fresh” organs.
SOURCE/REFERENCE: Nature 2002; 415:385
