title: Renal transplantation in hamsters.
abstract: Hamsters have never before been used for experimental kidney transplantation. An original anesthetic and microsurgical protocol is presented for renal transplantation in hamsters based on a series of 152 orthotopic renal transplantations. This operation is performed with the animal under general anesthesia of acepromazine and sodium thiopental. A left nephrectomy is followed by left renal orthotopic transplantation. The transplantation is performed in the following order: anastomosis of the renal artery and aorta, anastomosis of the renal vein to the inferior vena cava, and implantation of the ureter in the bladder. The survival rate after contralateral nephrectomy was 71 % in 45 female hamsters. Male hamsters should not be used because of a high risk of severe periureteral stenosis caused by fibrosis secondary to necessary dissection of the large seminal vesicles. The prevention of hypothermia in hamsters is mandatory.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000601:surgery; D006224:Cricetinae / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008866:Microsurgery; D009392:Nephrectomy / Q000401:mortality; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012077:Renal Artery / Q000601:surgery; D012082:Renal Veins / Q000601:surgery; D012737:Sex Factors; D014682:Vena Cava, Inferior / Q000601:surgery