A method for freezing rat kidney in situ

A surgical approach has been described which permits mobilization and perfusion of the rat kidney as a preliminary to in situ freezing of this organ. The freezing apparatus employed was fabricated in the laboratory. The freezing chamber consisted of a rubber condom placed around the kidney and attached to a large glass tube. The slope of the freezing curve is dictated by a controller-recorder apparatus. The freezing apparatus and operative technique was evaluated as to its practicability by freezing rat kidneys perfused with 13% dimethylsulfoxide. There was no evidence of post-freezing renal function in these experiments. Histological studies indicated that portions of the kidneys perfused with dimethylsulfoxide survived.