Abstract
The authors developed a new machine for organ perfusion and by using this succeeded in preserving an isolated human uterus in a condition of normal body temperature and humidity of 100 percent.
Moreover, the authors succeeded in preserving a trophoblastic tumor in utero.
1. Concerning the machine, (a) The use of a fluid amplifier gives long durability and allows long operation of the machine, (b) Blood destruction is negligible with the diaphragm-pump, (c) The flow rate and pressure of the perfusate can be controlled easily by changing the supply-pressure and the stroke of pump, (d) The wave form of the pulse can be made to approximate that in the living body, (e) The temperature of the perfusate is controlled automatically to normal body temperature. (f) The input and output of the perfusate are balanced by a control mechanism.
2. Concerning the experimental results (a), the authors succeeded in preserving an isolated human uterus for more than 5 hours at normal body temperature, (b) The most useful tests of uterine function are the electromyogram, the lactate-, pyruvate concentration and ratio, (c) The authors also succeeded in preserving a trophoblastic tumor in an isolated uterus. In this experiment, it was also useful to test the HCG and HPL concentration in the perfusate and to study tritiated thymidine radio-autograms of the tumor cells. (d) Prostaglandin F2α is very useful for the study of the activity of the isolated human uterus.