Yale-developed technology restores cell and organ function in pigs after death, a potential organ transplant breakthrough. Within just minutes of the final heartbeat, a cascade of biochemical events triggered by a lack of blood flow, nutrients, and oxygen begins to destroy a body’s cells and orga
Illustration of organ perfusion and cellular recovery with OrganEx technology. The cell-saving blood analog is delivered to vital organs one hour after death. Credit: Marin Balaic
Using a new technology the scientists developed that delivers a specially designed cell-protective fluid to organs and tissues, the team restored blood circulation and other cellular functions in pigs a full hour after their deaths. They report their findings in the August 3 edition of the journalTheir results may help extend the health of human organs during surgery and expand the availability of donor organs, the authors said.
Six hours after treatment with OrganEx, the researchers found that certain key cellular functions were active in many areas of the pigs’ bodies — including the heart, liver, and kidneys. Additionally, some organ functions had been restored. For instance, they found evidence of electrical activity in the heart, which retained the ability to contract.Normally when the heart stops beating, organs begin to swell, collapsing blood vessels and blocking circulation, he said.
Additional studies are necessary to understand the apparently restored motor functions in the animals, the researchers stressed. They also called for rigorous ethical review from other scientists and bioethicists.
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