Histological Study of Fresh Versus Frozen Semitendinous Muscle Tendon Allografts

• Published in: Clinics (São Paulo, Brazil) Vol. 65; no. 3; pp. 297 - 303
• Main Authors: Bitar, Alexandre Carneiro, Santos, Luiz Augusto Ubirajara, Croci, Alberto Tesconi, Pereira, João Alberto Ramos Maradei, França Bisneto, Edgard N., Giovani, Arlete Mazzini Miranda, Oliveira, Claudia Regina G.C.M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Brazil Elsevier España, S.L.U 01-03-2010; Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo; Faculdade de Medicina / USP; Elsevier España
• Subjects: Adult; Basic Research; Cryopreservation; Female; Histology; Humans; Male; MEDICINE, GENERAL & INTERNAL; Muscle, Skeletal - cytology; Tendons; Tendons - cytology; Tissue banks; Tissue transplantation; Transplantation, Homologous; Histology; Tissue transplantation; Tissue banks; Cryopreservation; Tendons
• ISSN: 1807-5932; 1980-5322; 1980-5322
• DOI: 10.1590/S1807-59322010000300010

The purpose of this study was to histologically analyze allografts from cadaveric semitendinous muscle after cryopreservation at −80°C in comparison to a control group kept at only −4°C to test the hypothesis that the histological characteristics of the tissue are maintained when the tendons are kept at lower temperatures.
In a tissue bank, 10 semitendinous tendons from 10 cadavers were frozen at −80ºC as a storage method for tissue preservation. They were kept frozen for 40 days, and then a histological study was carried out. Another 10 tendon samples were analyzed while still “fresh”.
There was no histological difference between the fresh and frozen samples in relation to seven variables.
Semitendinous muscle tendon allografts can be submitted to cryopreservation at −80ºC without suffering histological modifications.