Effect of antithymocyte globulin on islet of Langerhans transplantation.
Lewis rats were treated with streptozotocin to induce hyperglycemia and glycosuria (400-600 mg/dl). Transplantation of approximately 1,000 dissociated islets obtained from collagenase-treated pancreases from 4 donors will promptly correct induced diabetes. Functional survival of islet allografts is related to genetic disparity between donor and recipient strains. In the closely matched Fisher-to-Lewis combination, islets functioned for a mean of 4.2+/-1 days while in the AgB-incompatible Wistar/Furth-to-Lewis combination, islets functioned for a mean of only 2.1+/-0.5 days. Treatment of recipients with antithymocyte globulin (ATG) for 3 days extended islet survival to a mean of 11.8 +/- 1.9 days in the Wistar/Furth-to-Lewis combination and to as long as 184+/-87.5 days in the Fischer-to-Lewis combination. ATG may have a role in trials of clinical islet transplants.
D000818:Animals; D000961:Antilymphocyte Serum / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000601:surgery; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006085:Graft Survival / Q000187:drug effects*; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy; D016381:Islets of Langerhans Transplantation; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous
D000961:Antilymphocyte Serum