We used a canine left lung allotransplantation model to evaluate 24-hour lung preservation with two different electrolyte solutions, low-potassium dextran and low-potassium dextran with 1% glucose. To investigate changes in the energy status during preservation, we analyzed the lungs for adenosine triphosphate, phosphocreatine, and several metabolites of the glycolysis pathway and the citric acid cycle: glucose, glucose-6-phosphate, lactate, citrate, and malate. We also devised and evaluated a pulmonary cooling jacket to prevent rewarming of the lung during implantation. The lungs were divided into four groups. Groups I (n = 10) and II (n = 6) were flushed with low-potassium dextran and groups III (n = 6) and IV (n = 6) were flushed with low-potassium dextran solution with 1% glucose. The cooling jacket was used for groups II and IV only. After 24-hour preservation at 10 degrees C, the left lungs were implanted into the recipient animals. Function of the transplanted left lung was assessed during temporary (10 minutes) occlusion of the contralateral pulmonary artery while both lungs were ventilated with 100% oxygen. This assessment was performed at 1 hour and at 3, 8, and 22 days after transplantation. Immediately after transplantation the arterial oxygen tension was 279 +/- 70 mm Hg in group I, 376 +/- 56 mm Hg in group II, 523 +/- 41 mm Hg in group III, and 518 +/- 50 mm Hg in group IV. The arterial oxygen tension in groups III and IV were significantly greater than in group I (p < 0.05). Of the lungs preserved with low-potassium dextran solution with 1% glucose solution, 11 of 12 (92%) showed excellent lung function (arterial oxygen tension > 300 mm Hg) at 3 days; only 10 of 16 lungs preserved with low-potassium dextran achieved this level of function. Glucose, glucose-6-phosphate, lactate, citrate and malate levels decreased significantly during 24-hour preservation with low-potassium dextran solution; they were stable with low-potassium dextran solution with 1% glucose. Adenosine triphosphate and phosphocreatine were stable for 24 hours with both low-potassium dextran and low-potassium dextran solution with 1% glucose. The cooling jacket provided uniform cooling of the lung parenchyma during implantation, and significant increase in temperature was observed in its absence, with topical cooling by cold saline solution.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)