FREEZE-THAW-INDUCED LATENT INJURY IN CELLS OF RENAL CORTEX

The phenomenon of freeze-thaw-induced latent injury, or deleterious effects of freezing and thawing manifested with time after thawing, was demonstrated by slices of renal cortex of the mouse. Glycerolated tissues which were frozen slowly (3.8°C per min) and thawed rapidly (8°C per sec) showed accentuated loss in respiratory function (Qo2) during 4-hr incubation at 37°C when compared with unfrozen control slices. Percentage decrease in rate of oxygen consumption between 1- to 2-, 2- to 3-, and 3- to 4-hr storage intervals was 33, 31, and 43% greater for frozen-thawed tissues. Parallel observations with electron microscopy suggested correlative evidence for coincident accentuated ultrastructural damage to mitochondria. Further investigation of freeze-thaw-induced latent injury was suggested using an approach based upon evaluation of the various levels of biological organization, from tissue to molecular entities. © 1969.