X-Message-Number: 6594
Date: 24 Jul 96 02:56:04 EDT
From: Paul Wakfer <>
Subject: Prometheus Project: Science Method
It is entirely reasonable that most of the science questioning of the
Prometheus Project so far has been directed not at the problem of how
reversible cryopreservation of the brain will be achieved, but instead at how
this can be "convincingly demonstrated and scientifically proven" when the
body of the animal is not available. In a nutshell, "How can we demonstrate
mental faculties in a brain with no IO capability?".
I was very much aware of this when I began the project. I was also aware
that in order for the project to have a *major* impact on science, medicine
and human culture, this demonstration is crucial. And I was also aware that I
had very little chance of obtaining the necessary funds to execute the
project *unless* this revolutionary potential existed. The goals of the
project are a challenge to both cryobiology to reversibly preserve the brain,
and to neurobiology to provide us with methods to show convincing evidence of
this.
The following description is my present understanding of how this might
be done. However, it should be clearly understood that this is preliminary
and is subject to many possible changes both before and after the project
research has begun. In addition, while I am sure that the following is going
to raise more questions than it answers among the science readers of this
forum, I am *not* open to answering these questions or giving any more detail
at this time. Later, there will be a time for such discussion and dissection
of the proposed research plans.
In-situ model:
1. A mammal will undergo preliminary operations and recovery to modify the
body to head vasculature to be more suitable for the experimental
procedure *without* compromising the viability of the animal.
2. The vasculature of its head will be isolated from that of its body, and
the vasculature of its brain from that of its superficial skeletal
muscle, eyes, facial nerves, and ears to the extent that this is
possible. Vitrification perfusion will be applied to its brain, and
head/brain interface, while its body is maintained in mild hypothermia
possibly still with its blood intact, by either its own a beating heart
and a ventilator, or by a heart-lung machine.
3. The vitrification perfusion procedure will be followed by cooling of the
brain only to -70xC by perfusion with cold perfluorochemical while
attempting to maintain a 70xC+ gradient from the superficial tissues to
the brain in order to allow the sense organs and the means of brain
self-expression to be spared to the greatest extent possible.
4. The head will then be rewarmed to just above freezing with vitrification
solution washout and blood reinfusion.
5. The head/brain/body vasculature will be reconnected, and the whole
animal will be rewarmed and revived.
Isolated head model:
This will probably be begun first, in order to ascertain whether the
whole head will withstand the cryopreservation procedure for the brain and
therefore obviate some of the complexity detailed above.
If neither of these approaches is feasible, however, we do have an IO
problem. In this event, we might have to be content with doing Robert White
experiments, in which the brain within the skull is transplanted to a
recipient so it can be monitored in less definitive ways over a few weeks
(until rejection occurs). Those experiments would at least allow us to
optimize brain viability.
Another possibility is what is now being done in the lab with livers and
kidneys, i.e., perfusing them with blood in vitro. This has several
advantages, including the ability to eliminate white cells and platelets,
which could otherwise preclude assessment of cerebral (and even superficial
tissue) function, and the ability to lower hematocrit to permit perfusion
that otherwise would not occur. Something this modest might be sufficient if
the neurobiologists can give us sufficiently convincing tests to perform on
the in vitro perfused brain. Another advantage is that we can perhaps more
easily quantitate perfusion and other defects and learn how to overcome them.
Yes, I know this is a tall order. There is no question that this whole
project is on the leading edge of several branches of science and medicine.
But then the only way humanity ever progresses is by constantly and
steadfastly "pushing the edge of the envelop"!
-- Paul --
!!!!! REVERSIBLE BRAIN CRYOPRESERVATION *CAN* BE ACHIEVED IN 10 YEARS !!!!!
Paul Wakfer email: Voice/Fax: Pager:
US: 1220 E Washington St #24, Colton, CA 92324 909-481-4433 800-805-2870
Canada: 238 Davenport Rd #240, Toronto, ON M5R 1J6 416-968-6291 416-446-9461
(currently in Canada)
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