Zhao D, Wang L, Na N, Huang Z, Miao B, Hong L. A model of isolated, vascular whole thymus transplantation in nude rats.
Transplant Proc 2012;
44:1394-8. [PMID:
22664022 DOI:
10.1016/j.transproceed.2011.10.055]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2011] [Accepted: 10/27/2011] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
We used a model of vascularized thymus lobes as a whole isolated organ transplantation in rats.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Male Fisher rats (F344, RT11v1; n = 10) and male homozygous Rowett nude rats (rnu/rnu; n = 10) were used as donors and recipients, respectively. Both vascular lobes of the thymus as a whole isolated organ were heterotopically transplanted to the neck of recipients. The right common carotid artery of the donor thymus was anastomosed end-to-end to the homonymous artery of the recipient. The anterior vena cava and the left brachiocephalic vein of the donor thymus were anastomosed end-to-side to the right and left external jugular veins of the recipient, respectively. Histological examination was used to monitor graft viability; graft function was assessed using flow cytometry (FCM) and immunologic effects by skin grafts in vivo.
RESULTS
All recipients survived. Preparation of the donors and recipients took 35.6 ± 5.5 minutes and 60.3 ± 15.1 minutes, respectively. The blood supply to the thymus graft was patent. Histology of the thymus on postoperative days 14, 56, and 112 revealed viable grafts with preserved microarchitecture. FCM analysis showed 37.18 ± 11.1% CD3+ T cells at day 21 after transplantation. Skin grafts from F344 and Rowett rats survived 8-10 and more than 30 days, respectively, whereas all third-party Sprague Dawley grafts were rejected within 5 days.
CONCLUSION
We developed a novel model of isolated, direct vascularized whole thymus transplantation in nude rats, in which both lobes of the fully vascularized thymus were harvested en bloc for successful transplantation.
Collapse