Frozen organ transplant has been achieved

2002/03/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Medikuntza

One of the problems with organ transplants is the lack of fresh organs. In fact, for the moment it is not possible to store frozen organs, since ice crystals that form during the freezing process usually pierce and deteriorate tissues. However, at the Nôtre-Dame de Montreal a technique has been worked that is expected to someday serve humans.

Researchers at this hospital have managed to transplant the ovary from rats stored in liquid nitrogen to another female rat. This has been the first time an icy organ has been successfully transplanted. Although the transplanted ovaries were not as effective as before, more than half of the rats obulared normally and one of them was managed.

It would certainly be a good solution for women and children who are sterilized by chemotherapy. However, some researchers find their application difficult in humans, since their organs are larger and therefore more likely to suffer damage during freezing.