title: Limb allotransplantation in rats: combined immunosuppression by FK-506 and 15-deoxyspergualin.
abstract: The immunosuppressive effect of combined therapy using FK-506 and 15-deoxyspergualin was investigated in rat limb allotransplantation. The right hindlimb of an inbred Dark Agouti rat (RT1a) was transplanted to a Lewis rat (RT1l) and observed for 120 days. Eighty-eight transplantations were performed. Rejection of the grafts was evaluated histologically as well as macroscopically. A pathologic grading system was used to rate the severity of rejection. Limb survival time in Lewis rats receiving FK-506 therapy for days was significantly prolonged by combined therapy with 15-deoxyspergualin. Histologic study showed practically no rejection in all the graft-composing tissues except the skin and bone marrow, in which there was rejection. These results suggest that tissues like bone, cartilage, and muscle may survive transplantation with short-term combination FK-506 and 15-deoxyspergualin therapy even after withdrawal of both agents.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Yamaguchi University School of Medicine, Japan.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Muramatsu
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Doi
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kawai
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005269:Femur / Q000473:pathology; D006085:Graft Survival; D006146:Guanidines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006614:Hindlimb / Q000637:transplantation*; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000473:pathology; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology; D016559:Tacrolimus / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous
chemical_list: D006146:Guanidines; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; C037258:gusperimus; D016559:Tacrolimus