X-Message-Number: 326
From att!garnet.berkeley.edu!quaife Sat May 11 07:27:03 PDT 1991
Date: Sat, 11 May 91 07:27:03 PDT
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Subject: Freezing brains

      Breakthrough in Cryopreservation of Mammalian Brains

                        Art Quaife, Ph.D.
                        President, Trans Time Inc.
                        
Our biologists, particularly Drs. Hal Sternberg and Paul Segall,
(who are also principals in the newly-formed BioTime) currently
perform about 25 freezing experiments on hamsters per month --
nearly one per day.  

Recently we have made an important discovery that may significantly
improve cryonic suspension procedures.  We have developed new
cryoprotective solutions and a protocol that have resulted in what
appears, under a dissecting microscope and using the naked eye, to
be EXCELLENT anatomical preservation of the hamster brain.  We
perfused hamsters with the newly developed cryoprotective solutions
and froze them down to -80 degrees C for one to three days.  The
hamsters were then thawed using intermittent microwave pulsing.  We
replaced the  cryoprotective solution with a more physiologic
solution, and reperfused blood.

Upon autopsy of the brain and gross inspection, the circulatory
system of these hamsters appears intact.  The brain is dehydrated,
not edematous.  Previous attempts had resulted in a lack of blood
perfusion to certain brain regions, while areas that received blood
had become very ruddy (strong generalized reddish tinge) and/or
pox-like (distinct red spots) in appearance.  This was probably due
to broken blood vessels caused by freezing using inappropriate
protocols and cryoprotective solutions.  At the appropriate time we
may have these post-frozen brains stained and examined by a
professional histologist to determine to what degree their
histology is normal. 

I have color photographs of a brain frozen using our new procedure,
compared to a brain frozen using a 3 molar glycerol solution.  The
difference is VERY dramatic.  I will be happy to send you a color
photocopy of these prints, if you send me your postal mail address.

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