A New Preservation Solution (SCOT 15) Improves the Islet Isolation Process From Pancreata of Non–Heart-Beating Donors: A Murine Model

Introduction

Due to the organ shortage, there is increased use of organs harvested from non-heart-beating donors (NHBD). These organs have been subjected to a period of warm ischemia that is most deleterious to functional recovery. We have designed a new preservation solution, “Solution de Conservation des Organes et des Tissus” (SCOT 15; Macopharma, Tourcoing, France) which contains an extracellular ionic composition including PEG 20 kD (15 g/L) as a colloid.

Methods

Our objective was to compare SCOT 15 with University of Wisconsin (UW) solution or islet culture medium CMRL 1066 + 1% of Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA), as the working and preservation solution for islet isolation from pancreata subjected to warm ischemia using a murine model.

Results

Warm ischemia decreased the islet yield and cellular viability regardless of the preservation solution. Either when the pancreas was or was not subjected to warm ischemia, the best islet yield was obtained with SCOT 15 (P < .05 vs UW or CMRL 1066). The same results were observed for islet viability as assessed using the 3,(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) test; namely, better viability with SCOT 15 as compared with UW or CMRL 1066 (P < .01).

Conclusion

In a murine model SCOT 15 was a better preservation solution for islet isolation than UW solution or culture medium (CMRL 1066).