Scientists revived organs from dead pigs  

The potential of this technology is enormous

Yale University scientists have succeeded in reviving pig organ cells that had died a few hours ago. In mammals, blood carries oxygen and nutrients to the body’s organs and cells. If the flow stops, the cells die and the organs follow. However, the new achievement shows that death can be slowed in organs and cells that are removed from the body, providing valuable time for organ transplants.

The scientists mixed the animal’s blood with an artificial substance, a solution containing anti-inflammatories, nerve blockers, nutrients and drugs that fight cell death.

They then connected the organs to a machine that creates a flow of fluid that mimics a heartbeat, oxygenating the fluid while drugs prevent clots from forming. The combination of machine and liquid was called OrganEx. It was tested on pigs immediately, one hour and seven hours after cardiac arrest. By keeping the organs at body temperature, the tissues continued to be nourished and produce waste at a controlled rate. A total of 100 pigs were used.

The results were impressive, as OrganEx was able to maintain tissue integrity, reduce cell death, revive certain molecular and cellular processes in a range of vital organs, including the heart, brain, liver and kidneys.

The research is still a long way from human trials. But if they succeed, the implications will be huge, as they will be able to significantly extend the life of an organ before it can be transplanted, since they will be able to harvest healthy organs long after the time of death. In turn this will make transplants widely available, saving many lives.

In addition, this technology may be able to limit damage to injured organs after heart attacks or strokes.

The research was published in Nature .