How deep-frozen organs could spell the end of transplant waiting lists

A new scientific development allowing organs to be frozen for transplant could save the lives of thousands of people. Currently, donor organs such as hearts, livers and kidneys must be transplanted within hours because of the rate at which their cells die. But American scientists have successfully transplanted frozen organs in animals up to three months later and their breakthrough could one day spell the end of transplant waiting lists. The scientists, who are based with the Californian company Human BioSystems, removed a kidney from a rat and froze it for three months at temperatures as low as -80C using a special solution. The organ was slowly brought back to a temperature of about 4C and transplanted into another rat. It was then removed again to be closely analysed. The analysis, known as a histology, showed that the... [read full story]