Using fructose-1,6-diphosphate during hypothermic rabbit-heart preservation: a high-energy phosphate study.

Background: In this study, we evaluated the effects of fructose-1,6-diphosphate (FDP) on high-energy phosphate metabolism during 18-hour hypothermic rabbit-heart preservation.

Methods: Under general anesthesia and artificial ventilation, hearts from 42 adult New Zealand white rabbits were harvested, flushed, and preserved in St. Thomas solution at 4(o)C for 18 hours.