Papers Published

1. O'Neill, MJ; Weisberg, W; Wolf, PD; Francalancia, NA; Davis, D; Hawkins, R, Time limits for submersion of canine left ventricular biopsies in cold isopentane., Journal of Surgical Research, vol. 32 no. 6 (June, 1982), pp. 617-623 [doi] .
   (last updated on 2023/06/01)

   Abstract:
   Creatine phosphate (CP) and ATP concentrations of left ventricular biopsies are being frequently used to determine the energy balance of the heart. The validity of these measurements depends upon preventing significant loss of ATP and CP prior to freezing the specimen. We have designed this study to determine if the time interval between cutting the biopsy and submerging it in cold isopentane has a significant effect upon the resulting concentrations of ATP and CP. These biopsies were taken on dogs on cardiopulmonary bypass. We used a biopsy drill which was modified to allow us to vary and time the interval between cutting and submersion of the biopsy in isopentane. We found that the concentration of creatine phosphate in the myocardium at completion of the cut was 12.7 μmole/g wet weight and that the loss of creatine phosphate was 5.5% per second before cooling. The corresponding concentration of ATP was 6.8 μmole/g wet weight and the loss was 2% per second. The correlation coefficient for the semilog regression analysis for CP was 0.72 (F = 95.3; P = 0.0001) and for ATP was 0.47 (F = 24.6; P = 0.0001). The loss of high-energy phosphates is significant when there is a delay between cutting and freezing of the specimen. We recommend that myocardial biopsies be frozen as quickly as possible and are developing a drill to accomplish this. © 1982.