J.Jpn. Surg. Soc.. 83(4): 357-367, 1982

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Original article

CRYOPRESERVATION OF PARATHYROID TISSUE

A simplified method of cryopreservation of the parathyroid tissue was investigated and its applicability for the clinical use was assessed. Parathyroid tissues of surgical specimen and of Fisher rats were minced and immersed in Eagle’s MEM supplemented with serum and DMSO. After being placed in －4℃ for 1 hour, then －20℃ for 2 hours, the specimens were cryopreserved in liquid nitrogen until atested. The rat parathyroid tissues having been cryopreserved for 2 to 3 weeks were rapidly defreezed in 38℃ water bath and were implanted in the totally parathyroidectomized hypocalcemic rats. The serum calcium concentration was restored to the almost normal level after 2 weeks of grafting. When these isografts were removed, the serum calcium level decreased again to less than 5mg/dl. Histological study of the cryopreserved human and rat parathyroid tissues revealed structural alterations and cytoplasmic injuries immediately after defreezing, and complete recovery after having been grafted for 14 to 45 days. Electron microscopic studies confirmed these findings. Although the human parathyroid tissue needs to be minced into small pieces for successful cryopreservation, a whole rat parathyroid gland is small enough for freezing.

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