Effect of freezing on the passive mechanical properties of arterial samples

Abstract

Little mechanical data is available on human arteries because of thedifficulty of testing artery samples often obtained from autopsy,while arteries are still considered “fresh”. Various solutions mimickingthe physiological environment have been used to preserve artery samplesfrom harvesting to testing. Cryopreservation might provide a meansto preserve the mechanical properties of arteries for days or weeksafter harvesting. The objective of this study is to investigate theeffect of several preservation methods, including simplified cryopreservationmethods, on the passive mechanical properties of arteries. Eighteenfresh cruciform samples were mechanically tested. Samples were dividedin three groups based on preservation medium and freezing method:isotonic saline solution, Krebs-Henseleit buffer solution with dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), and dipped in liquid nitrogen. In each group, halfof the samples were stored at -20℃ and the other half at -80℃. Twomonths later, all the tissues were thawed at 4℃ and mechanical testswere repeated. Preservation of arteries for two months in Krebs solutionwith DMSO (at -20℃ or at -80℃) or in isotonic saline solution at-20℃ were the methods that least changed the mechanical propertiesof the arteries.