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A group of scientists from Yale University have discovered something that could mark the future of medicine. Through a kind of blood injected into dozens of pigs an hour after death, the researchers were able to reanimate some organs two mammals, reversing cell death and various vital functions.
In the study disclosed In the journal Nature, scientists explain that euthanized several dozen pigs and brought them to a heart attack. Then they were divided into three groups: one group of animals was transferred to extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), the other group was left without life support and in the third group was administered slowly – through an infusion set a liquid, a kind of synthetic blood. Six hours later, the researchers went to study the effects on the organs.
This “collaboration” applied to the third group was named OrganEx. points out David Andrievich, one of the authors of the study, and consists of two components already mentioned: the first consists of a “perfusion system similar to those of cardiac and respiratory support”, and the second is a “synthetic cellular fluid that bombards and contains various elements optimized for improving cell health, reducing cell death and the process of inflammation.”
Cellular fluid is made up of a synthetic form of hemoglobin, an oxygen-carrying protein in red blood cells, pig blood, and even substances designed to protect cells.
THE PUB • CONTINUE TO READ BELOW
The results of treating pigs with the OrganEx system have been very encouraging. Assuming that not all cells die at the same time after death, the scientists found that several cellular functions were active in different parts of the mammalian body. Most: some organs have resumed their activities. The scientists found that neurons and astrocytes from various areas of the brain also became active again.
For example, the heart could contract again, and genetically the body reactivated its recovery mechanisms. However, the experts pointed out that this does not mean that the pigs are resurrected – Brain activity never reset. What happened was that some of the functions of the organs started working again, but this was not a one-time reaction of the body of the pigs.
“Our exploits underline the previously rejected hypothesis that the body of large mammals has the ability to recover after the cessation of blood flow,” says David Andrievich, who suggests that this process can be used “to increase the availability of organs for transplantation.” or for localized insufficiency.”
According to El País, this position was general Stephen Latham, director of the Yale University Center for Bioethics. “I think this technology is very promising for our ability to preserve organs after they have been harvested from a donor,” he says, adding that one possibility is “to take an organ and connect it to a perfusion system to be able to transport it over long distances.” over a long period of time.”
However, experts note that this possibility is “very far” from being used in humans. To do this, it will be necessary to “learn more” about the functioning of organs and the reaction of cells after death.
