Using an Isolated Working Rat Heart Model to Test Donor Heart Preservation Strategies

Summary

We describe an ex vivo isolated working rat heart protocol to test donor heart preservation strategies. This paper describes the protocol for use in static cold storage of rodent donor hearts; however, the protocol can also be used for donor hearts obtained after donation after circulatory death and brain death.

Abstract

Optimization of donor heart preservation solutions has played a key role in reducing ischemia-reperfusion injury in donor hearts during organ retrieval, transportation, and transplantation. Previous work from our laboratory showed that the addition of glyceryl trinitrate and erythropoietin to donor heart preservation solutions could significantly improve cardiac functional recovery after prolonged cold storage and in donation after circulatory death hearts. This supplementation protocol has been implemented in clinical use in transplant units around Australia, Belgium, and the United Kingdom. Here, we outline a protocol for testing supplementation strategies using an ex vivo isolated working rat heart (IWRH) perfusion circuit. Using this methodology, supplementation strategies can be tested in the context of prolonged cold static storage, donation after brain death, and donation after circulatory death donor heart preservation. Cardiac functional recovery, measured by aortic flow, coronary flow, cardiac output, pulse pressure, and heart rate, can be used to determine whether a particular preservation strategy can minimize ischemia-reperfusion injury of the donor heart.

Introduction

The success of a heart transplant can be greatly influenced by the preservation method used for the donor heart. Donor hearts are subjected to ischemic insults throughout the organ retrieval, transport, and transplantation process. The degree of ischemic damage to the donor organ can be mitigated by selecting an appropriate donor heart preservation strategy. Cold static storage (CSS) remains the most feasible and common method for donor heart preservation; however, CSS may not necessarily be the best option for all heart donation pathways. For example, hearts procured via the donation after circulatory death (DCD) pathway are maintained and assessed for viability usin....

Protocol

All animals received humane care in compliance with the National Health and Medical Research Council (Australia) guidelines. All animal procedures were approved by the Animal Ethics Committee of the Garvan Institute of Medical Research (Sydney, Australia).

1. Preparation of Krebs-Henseleit (KH) buffer

1. Prepare 2 L of a 20x stock solution of KH buffer containing 2.36 M NaCl, 0.094 M KCl, 0.024 M MgSO₄, 0.024 M KH₂PO₄. Aliquot into 50 .......

Discussion

Given the sensitive nature of heart baseline function, care must be taken to maintain the perfusion rig clean and with compatible components. For example, the correct PVC tubing must be used. Some tubing materials, such as silicone, can contribute to lower aortic flow and contractility, which may be due to loss of oxygen via the tubing. While there are isolated working rat heart perfusion circuits commercially available, most of these are primarily used for Langendorff perfusion only. Generally, functional measurements c.......

Materials

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
1.5 mL colorless Eppendorff tube, 1000 per box	Bio Strategy Pty Ltd	0030.125.150
15 mL cent/tubes (S) Sleeve/25 PP ctn/500	Sigma-aldrich Pty Ltd	CLS430791-500ea
BP Transducer/Cable kit	ADInstruments	MLT1199	Data Acquisition
Bridge Amp	ADInstruments	FE221	Data Acquisition
Carbogen 555G2	BOC	BOC002
Checktemp1 thermometer	Hanna Instruments	HI98509	Rig Construction
Clamp Pinch 1/4-7/16 PK 12	Thomas Scientific	2848Y40	Rig Construction
Clamp W/Extension Stem Med.	Thomas Scientific	8847T08	Rig Construction
Clamp W/Extension Stem Sm.	Thomas Scientific	8847T02	Rig Construction
Clips, Vessel, 60 g Pressure	Coherent Scientific	14121	Surgical Equipment
Closed Connector	Thomas Scientific	8847E25	Rig Construction
Covidien Sofsilk 2-0 black precut 45 cm box of 24	Specialist Medical Supplies	S195	Surgical consumables
Custom Made 250 mL Jacketed Degasser	Custom Blown Glassware Pty Ltd	N/A	Rig Construction
Custom Made 750 mL Reservoir	Custom Blown Glassware Pty Ltd	N/A	Rig Construction
D-(+)-Glucose Anhydrous SigmaUltra	Sigma-aldrich Pty Ltd	G7528-1Kg	To make Krebs Buffer
Dual Channel Console	ADInstruments	TS402	Data Acquisition
Erlenmyer flasks 2 L
Filter Microfibre type GF/C glass fibre 47 mm, 100	Bio-strategy Pty Ltd	1822047
Forceps, 15 cm, 0.3 mm, CRVD	Coherent Scientific	14114	Surgical Equipment
Four Prong Clamps with 9 mm x 115 mm long arm for holding 2-70 mm diam objects. Vinyl coated	Met-App Australia Pty Ltd	1352	Rig Construction
Heater Circulator. Digital Solid State Control. (1020 Watts/240 Volts)	Thermoline Scientific	TU3	Rig Construction
Heparin 5000 U/5 mL box 50 Pfizer 02112115	Clffird Hallam Healthcare Pty Ltd	1258693	Drugs
Ilium Xylazil 20 Inj 50 mL	Cenvet Australia Pty Ltd	X5010	Anaesthetic
Johns Hopkins Bulldog Clamp	Coherent Scientific	CS-WPI-14117
Ketamine 100 mg/50 mL	Provet (NSW) Pty Ltd	KETAI1	Anaesthetic
Magnesium Sulphate heptahydrate AR 500 g Chemsupply	Bio Strategy Pty Ltd	MA048-500g	To make Krebs Buffer
Male/Female Hinged Adapter	Thomas Scientific	8847V08	Rig Construction
Masterflex L/S Easy-Load Head for Precision Tubing, PPS, CRS Rotor	John Morris	1015164	Rig Construction
Metzenbaum scissors, 11.5 cm curved	Coherent Scientific	WPI-501748	Surgical Equipment
Metzenbaum scissors, 14.5 cm straight	Coherent Scientific	WPI-501252	Surgical Equipment
Mounting Hardware F/2-HEADS SS	John Morris	1014414	Mounting screws for pump heads
Open-sided connector	Thomas Scientific	8847E05	Rig Construction
Paraformadehyde	Sigma-Aldrich	P6148-500G	Sample processing
Potassium Chloride (AnalaR NORMAPUR) 500 g	VWR Chemicals	26764.26	To make Krebs Buffer
Potassium phosphate monobasic	Sigma-Aldrich Pty Ltd	P5379-500g	To make Krebs Buffer
Powerlab 2/26, 2 channel recorder + Labchart software	ADInstruments	ML826	Computer Hardware and Software
Precision XN Inline Flowsensor, 3.2 mm (1/8")ID ME4PXN-KR37 XF	ADInstruments	ME4PXN	Rig Construction
Scalpel with handle disposable #11 pkt/10	BSN Medical (Aust) Pty Ltd	73252-36
Silicone Gasket for Swinnex 47 mm 5/PK	Merck Millipore	SX0004701	Rig Construction
Silicone O-Ring 5-329 10/PK	Merck Millipore	XX1104707	Rig Construction
Single Buret Clamp	Thomas Scientific	8847T32	Rig Construction
Slip-on inlet Filter pore size 10 µm (bubbler)	Sigma-aldrich	59277	Rig Construction
Sm. 360 Rotation Connector	Thomas Scientific	8847E35	Rig Construction
Sodium bicarbonate	Sigma-Aldrich Pty Ltd	S6297 - 250g	To make Krebs Buffer
Swinnex Filter Holder, 47 mm	Merck Millipore	SX0004700	Rig Construction
syringes 1 mL box/100	Becton Dickinson Pty Ltd	302100
Three Prong Clamps with 9 mm diameter x 125 mm long arm and twin screw for holding 5-80 mm	Met-App Australia Pty Ltd	1356	Rig Construction
Tubing Flowmeter Module TS410	ADInstruments	TS410	Data Acquisition
Tubing PVC 6.35 mm ID x 9.52 mm OD 50ft Roll 15.24m, clear , DEHP phthalate free, food grade meets REAC	Thermo Fisher	NAL 8701-0600	Rig Construction
Tubing PVC 7.94mm ID x 11.1mm OD 50ft Roll 15.24 m, clear , DEHP phthalate free, food grade meets REAC	Thermo Fisher	NAL 8701-0900	Rig Construction
Tubing PVC 9.52 mm ID x 12.7 mm OD 100ft Roll	Thermo Fisher	NAL 8701-4120	Rig Construction
Vannas scissors, 8.5 cm, Straight, 7 mm Blades	Coherent Scientific	WPI-500-086	Surgical Equipment
Water Bath 30 Litre with Suspended Tray	Thermoline Scientific	TLWB-30	Rig Construction