Gerry Palmers Science 08.04.2022 02:Aug AM EDT

Yale University Scientists Have Successful Revived Organ Cells of Dead Pigs

Scientists might not have discovered how to overcome death yet, but a recent study showed how this can be nearly achieved with Yale University researchers successfully reviving cells of dead pigs' organs, as they lay lifeless for about an hour, the New York Times reports.

As a result, the pigs' hearts restarted beating, and their bodies didn't stiffen as they would normally do upon death. Other hour-long dead pigs were treated with ECMO, a machine that pumped blood through their bodies. These pigs became stiff, as their organs swelled and were damaged, as their blood vessels collapsed, and purple spots appeared on their backs where blood pooled.

This experiment then adds questions to what science notes the separation between life and death. Although the pigs were not conscious in any way, their apparently dead cells went back to life. Their hearts began to beat again as OrganEx ran in veins and arteries. Cells in their organs, including the heart, liver, kidneys and brain, were functioning once more, and the animals' bodies never became stiff like a typical dead pig.

Organ Saving Solution in Dead Pigs

The team mixed the pigs' blood and artificial hemoglobin with OrganEx, a solution that carries anti-inflammatory medicine, nerve blockers (to avoid a return to consciousness), nutrients, and drugs that combat cell death. The project follows up on a 2019 breakthrough where the scientists revived dead pigs' brain cells using the precursor solution, BrainEx. After this study, the group conjured yp the possibility if that breakthrough could revive an entire body.

The discovery raised hopes for a range of future medical uses in humans, the most immediate being that it could help organs last longer, potentially saving the lives of thousands of people worldwide in need of transplants.

For those thinking if such breakthrough can be done on human organs, it still remains a distant possibility. Further studies are also needed if indee the organs have been functioning. Scientists will also need to analyze the effects of OrganEx without nerve blockers, and then test their work on humans. M

Ramnifications of Breakthrough: Extended Resources for Organ Donations, Saving More Lives Through Transplants

The impact of this breakthrough can be immense if such solutions as OrganEx will be deemed suitable for humans. This may stretch the viability of organ transplants. This could allow the collection of healthy organs long after the death of the donor. That, in turn, should alow more transplants, thereby saving more lives. This breakthrough could also limit the harm to organs after serious illnesses as heart attacks and strokes. Ideally, this will give people a better chance to recover from nearly fatal conditions. But then, this is very far way from reality.

Such studies could likewise spur discussions on the ethics of the procedure, after some of the dead pigs shocked the scientists with sudden head movements during the experiment.