Cryoprotective effect of trehalose in aortic valve homograft

Objective To search the best cryoprotectant for preserving aortic valve homograft in liquid nitrogen.Methods Cryoprotectant in test group:10% DMSO+ 0.1 mol/L trehalose;Cryoprotectant in control group:10% DMSO.The aortic valve homografts of Wistar rats were gradually hypothermied and then cryopreserved in 196℃liquid nitrogen.After 6 months,all the cryopreserved valves were thawed by the method of immersing in 40℃saline pool.The activity of cryopreserved valve was measured by glucose utilization and the viability of endotheliocyte.At the same time,the structure of cryopreserved valve was ob- served by light.microscope and electron microscope.Results The viability of endotheliocyte and tissue glucose consumption in test group were significantly higher than in control group,while the destruction of structure in test group was milder than in control group.Conclusion The effect of the cryoprotectant which was composed of 10% DMSO+ 0.1 mol/L trchalosc was much better than that of the cryoprotectant composed of 10% DMSO.