AJP - Endocrinology and Metabolism, Vol 248, Issue 4 432-E437, Copyright © 1985 by American Physiological Society
Steroid secretion by rat testes perfused with perfluorochemicals as oxygen carriers
C. Chubb and P. Draper
Organs perfused in vitro are important experimental models for
physiological studies. Perfusion medium supplemented with artificial oxygen
carriers would at physiological flow rates supply sufficient oxygen to
organs and would be superior to medium containing erythrocytes because it
is more defined. Perfluorotributylamine (FC-43), a perfluorochemical, is an
artificial oxygen carrier that has been previously reported to be
ineffective in maintaining endocrine organs perfused in vitro. The purpose
of this study was to determine the efficacy of FC-43 as an oxygen carrier
for rat testes perfused in vitro. The effects of FC-43 on testicular
function and structure were assessed by comparing the results of
experiments using perfusion medium containing either FC-43 or erythrocytes.
The results suggest that perfusion medium containing perfluorochemicals
must be prepared by standardized procedures and defined as to its
physiochemical parameters. The study resulted in the first successful in
vitro perfusion of an endocrine organ with perfluorochemicals as oxygen
carriers. The results not only provide the basis for an improved perfusion
medium but also support in vitro perfused testes as effective experimental
tools for testing perfluorochemical-based blood substitutes.
