The present study compares the effect of organ preservation with Euro-Collins solution, cardioplegic histidine-tryptophan-ketoglutarate solution, and University of Wisconsin solution on immediate pancreatic function after cold storage at 4°C for 24 hr. Postischemic organ quality of a porcine pancreas preparation was tested by quantification of physiological and biomedical parameters in a one-line reperfusion system. During reperfusion with a constant arterial pressure the arteriovenous flow rate was significantly higher for HTK (5.7±0.91 ml/min, n=8;P<0.05 vs. EC) and UW (7.4 ± 0.81 ml/min, n=8;P<0.05 vs. EC) than for EC (3.0<0.26 ml/min, n=6). The lowest lactate content in the reperfusate was found after HTK protection (HTK, 64.0±7.2 μmol/50 ml, n=8; versus EC, 114.2 ± 1.7 μmol/50 ml, n=6,P<0.001; versus UW, 148.0 ± 28.6 μwnol/50 ml, n=8,P<0.05). Amylase in the venous effluent was significantly lower (P<0.05) for HTK or UW protection than for EC (HTK, 189×72.6 U/ml; UW, 188 ± 39.4 U/ml; EC, 416 ± 71.7 U/ml). Oxygen consumption during reperfusion was significantly higher for HTK (2.15 ± 0.22 μl/g/ min,P<0.001) and UW (1.80 ± 0.52 μl/g/min,P<0.05) than for EC (0.47 ± 0.13 μl/g/min). We conclude that immediate postischemic organ quality and pancreatic.