Coconut Water Solutions for the Preservation of Spleen, Ovary, and Skin Autotransplants in Rats

• This is the first published study that verified the efficacy of coconut water in the preservation of splenic, ovarian, and skin tissues for autotransplants.
• This study was conducted according to international guidelines of animal protection and was approved by the Ethics Committee on Animal Experimentation of the Federal University of Minas Gerais, Brazil (Permit NrNo. 220/2009).
• The coconut water solution was as effective as lactated Ringer's and Belzer's solutions in the preservation of splenic, ovarian, and skin implants.
• At 4°C, green coconut water, mature coconut water, and modified green coconut water solutions, preserved the vitality and morphological aspects of splenic, ovarian, and cutaneous tissues and the functional proprieties of rat splenic and ovarian tissues over 6 hours.

BackgroundThe purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of coconut water in the preservation of spleen, ovary, and skin autotransplantations in rats.MethodsFifty female Wistar rats were divided randomly into 5 groups on the basis of the following tissue graft preservation solutions: group 1, lactated Ringer's; group 2, Belzer's solution; group 3, mature coconut water; group 4, green coconut water; and group 5, modified green coconut water. In group 5, the green coconut water solution was modified to obtain the same electrolyte composition as Belzer's solution. The spleen, ovaries, and a skin fragment were removed from each animal, stored for 6 hours in one of the solutions, and then re-implanted. The recoveries of tissue functions were assessed 90 days after surgery by means of spleen scintigraphy and blood tests. The implanted tissues were collected for histological analyses.ResultsHigher immunoglobulin G levels were observed in the animals of group 5 than in the animals of group 1. Differences in follicle-stimulating hormone levels were observed between groups 1 and 2 (P < .001), between groups 4 and 2 (P = .03), and between groups 5 and 2 (P = .01). The spleen scintigraphy results did not differ among the groups. The ovarian tissue was better preserved in the mature coconut water group (P < .007).ConclusionsSolutions containing coconut water allowed for the preservation of the spleen, ovaries, and skin for 6 hours, and the normal functions of these tissues were maintained in rats.