THE INTEGRITY OF TUBULAR CELL FUNCTION AFTER PRESERVATION IN COLLINS' OR SACKS' SOLUTION

SUMMARY Collins' solution is an excellent medium for kidney preservation by simple cold storage before transplantation. Efforts by Sacks et al. to improve this technique by modifying the composition seemed promising. A comparison between ability of these two media to preserve the tubular cell was attempted. The viability of the tubular cells was evaluated by measuring the 125I Hippuran uptake in cortex slices taken from kidneys preserved for 24 and 48 hr in the respective solutions. Kidneys exposed to as well as kidneys not exposed to warm ischaemia were used. Collins' solution was found to be superior in protecting the cell function. Nonetheless intracellular oedema during preservation was greater after preservation in this solution as compared with cells preserved in Sacks' solution.