Xenotransplantation: baboons as potential liver donors? Scientific and ethical issues.
The dramatic development of liver transplantation compared to a relative shortage of donors has brought a renewed interest to xenotransplantation. Because of anatomical and immunological compatibilities, nonhuman primates are the most appropriate donors. The aim of this work was to analyze the different problems of a baboon-to-man liver xenotransplantation. Thirty baboons bred in a French Primatology Center were studied. The analysis of anatomical, microbiological, and immunological data showed that only 8 baboons out of 30 were suitable as donors for xenotransplantation. Considering these data and the ethical issues, the actual feasibility of xenotransplantation programs is discussed.
Chiche
L
L
Groupe de Recherche de Chirurgie Hépatique, Hopital Paul Brousse, UER Kremlin Bicêtre, Villejuif, France.
Adam
R
R
Caillat-Zucman
S
S
Castaing
D
D
Bach
J F
JF
Bismuth
H
H
D000818:Animals; D004989:Ethics; D028741:Ethics Committees, Clinical; D005260:Female; D008099:Liver / Q000382:microbiology / Q000502:physiology; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D010215:Papio / Q000276:immunology*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013045:Species Specificity; D009927:Tissue and Organ Procurement; D014183:Transplantation, Heterologous