Transplantation of the uterus in the sheep: oxidative stress and reperfusion injury after short-time cold storage.

OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of cold ischemia and reperfusion after transplantation of the sheep uterus and to compare the preservation solution Perfadex (Vitrolife, Mölndal, Sweden) with Ringer's acetate.

DESIGN: Experimental animal study.

SETTING: University hospital.

ANIMAL(S): Adult, female sheep.

INTERVENTION(S): One uterine horn with the common uterine cavity and cervix of sexually mature ewes was auto-transplanted after 1 hour of cold ischemic storage in either Perfadex (n = 5) or Ringer's acetate (n = 5). During 3 hours of reperfusion, uterine venous blood was collected and analyzed for several parameters that were indicative of oxidative stress and reperfusion injury. A biopsy was taken for histological analysis at the end of the experiment.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Lipid peroxidation and ascorbyl radicals in uterine venous blood during reperfusion. Light microscopy and quantification of neutrophils in tissue after 3 hours of reperfusion.

RESULT(S): A decline in pH and a rise in lactate and pCO(2)-pO(2), as well as an elevation of antioxidant capacity, lipid peroxidation, and intensity of ascorbyl radical electron spin resonance signal, was found that was more prominent after storage in Ringer's acetate. The histological analysis revealed mild inflammation in both study groups.

CONCLUSION(S): Short-time cold ischemic storage of the sheep uterus does not induce any severe reperfusion damage, but the use of the protective buffer Perfadex decreases oxidative stress and inflammation when compared with a more simple solution.