Survival and recovery of cryopreserved rat platelets

• Published in: Cryobiology Vol. 17; no. 6; pp. 589 - 592
• Main Authors: Stein, Sidney F., Burdette, Everette C., Schaffer, Richard E., Popovic, Vojin P.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier Inc 01.12.1980
• Subjects: Animals; Blood Platelets - physiology; Cell Survival; Freezing; Preservation, Biological; Rats
• ISSN: 0011-2240; 1090-2392
• DOI: 10.1016/0011-2240(80)90074-7

Freezing studies were conducted using rat platelets to determine if electromagnetic thawing could be used to improve the survival time and recovery of platelets over that obtainable with conventional techniques. A total of 130 experiments were conducted. Seventy-four control experiments not involving freezing and 56 experimental freezings of rat platelets were performed. In most freezing experiments, 51Cr-labeled platelets were maintained in a mixture of RCD-20% plasma-6% Me 2SO. In this medium, the mean survival and recovery of unfrozen control platelets were 3.50 days and 67%, respectively. The results for frozen-thawed platelets were not encouraging. Using the same incubation mixture, the mean survival time was 1.18 days and the mean recovery was 7%, yielding a platelet viability index of 3.5%. Changing the thawing method (electromagnetic or waterbath), Me 2SO concentration (6 or 10%), buffer medium (RCD-20% plasma or plasma), or freezing or thawing rate did not improve the results. When these same methods were applied in humans, platelets could be successfully frozen and thawed. It would therefore appear that the rat model is an inappropriate one in which to develop improved techniques for freezing and thawing human platelets.