Aims Comparison between the extensive information on intestinal preservation injury in the rat is challenging since various preservation solutions, technical details, and grading systems have been used. This study investigates if strain represents another relevant variable for preservation injury outcome. Methods Grafts from Piebald-Viral-Glaxo (PVG), Lewis, Brown Norway (BN), Wistar, and Sprague-Dawley (SD) male rats (n = 8/strain) were used. Grafts were perfused and stored at 4°C in University of Wisconsin (UW) solution (with or without luminal preservation). Intestinal histology was evaluated at 8, 16, and 24 hours of preservation using the Park score. Lactate, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and glucose were measured in the preservation solution. Results Grafts from PVG and Lewis showed significantly lower injury scores compared to BN, Wistar, and SD at 8 and 16 hours, a difference that disappeared at 24 hours of preservation. Luminal preservation significantly reduced the injury score for all strains, except SD, at 8 and at 16 hours, a difference that disappeared at 24 hours. Biochemical analyses of LDH and lactate levels show a similar pattern both between different strains and the effect of luminal preservation, although not statistically significant. Conclusion Different rat strains seem to have different susceptibility to intestinal preservation injury under identical conditions. These results indicate that PVG and Lewis are more resistant to preservation injury than Wistar, BN, or SD. The beneficial effect of luminal preservation with UW solution is limited after 8 to 16 hours.
