Ultrastructural and metabolic effects after vitrification of precision-cut rat liver slices with antifreeze proteins

Antifreeze proteins I and III were utilised in an attempt to prevent loss of cytosolic sulphotransferase activity in vitrified precision-cut rat liver slices after 24hr storage at -196 degrees C. The effect of these novel vitrification regimes, on retention of phase I and II xenobiotic metabolic pathways, were quantified using 7-ethoxycoumarin and 7-hydroxycoumarin as substrates. Hepatic ultrastructure was assessed using transmission electron microscopy before and after vitrification, then compared with the metabolic effects.