Abstract: In this study, the feasibility of storing adrenal medulla tissue at low temperature was investigated by observing the morphology of graft cells and testing the change of rotation behavior in model rat of Parkinsonism after transplantation. The medulla tissue taken from adult Sprague-Dawley rats, frozen at the rate of decreasing 1 to 2℃ per minute, stored at -196℃ for one week, were transplanted into the caudate nucleus of host brain, where the unilateral substantia nigra was damaged by 6-hydroxydopamine. Test for rotation behaviour induced by apomorphine showed that the rotation reduced partly after operation; Histological examination revealed that the shapes of graft cells and the feature of staining did not change after frozen; histo- fluorescent observation showed the graft cells still maintain the function of producing catecholamine. It is suggested that freezing to low temperature does not adversely affect the biological character of adrenal medulla tissue, and the frozen-stored method may be utilized for setting up adrenal medulla tissue bank.

Key words: adrenal edulla, freezing, transplantation