Morphometric analysis of neointimal formation in murine cardiac grafts: III. Dissociation of intestitial fibrosis from neointimal formation.
BACKGROUND
This study examined the relationship between transplant vascular sclerosis (TVS) and tissue fibrosis, features of chronic rejection that can develop rapidly in accepted heterotopic murine cardiac allografts.


METHODS
The rate of development of interstitial fibrosis or TVS development was determined by computerized analysis of tissue sections from DBA/2-->C57BL/6 heterotopic cardiac allografts after immunosuppression with gallium nitrate.


RESULTS
In accepted cardiac allografts, neointimal fibrosis developed by 30 days after transplant, whereas TVS was minimal by day 30, and maximal by day 60. Variable levels of fibrosis were found throughout the allografts. DBA/2-->DBA/2 cardiac isografts never displayed TVS in this time period, but displayed allograft-like fibrosis within 60 days of transplantation.


CONCLUSIONS
Interstitial fibrosis can be dissociated from the TVS development in this experimental model of chronic cardiac allograft rejection. Apparently, it is caused, at least in part, by alloantigen-independent factors other than TVS-related tissue ischemia.
Armstrong
A T
AT
Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus 43210, USA.
Strauch
A R
AR
Starling
R C
RC
Sedmak
D D
DD
Orosz
C G
CG
D000818:Animals; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D016027:Heart Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008811:Mice, Inbred DBA; D013997:Time Factors; D014185:Transplantation, Isogeneic / Q000473:pathology; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000473:pathology