Experimental study of lymph node auto-transplantation in rats.
OBJECTIVE
To observe the restoration of structure and function of auto-transplanted lymph nodes.


METHODS
Inguinal lymph nodes in Spregue-Dawley (SD) rats were auto-transplanted by free implantation, or with an intact vascular pedicle, or by free transplantation with microvascular anastomosis, to the popliteal fossa where lymph nodes were removed. The observation methods included emission computerized tomographic (ECT) scanning, staining of China ink and methylthionine chloride to observe the histological changes.


RESULTS
After four weeks, these vascularized nodes showed normal histological appearances and spontaneously reestablished afferent and efferent lymphatic reconnection with the surrounding lymphatic vessels. ECT lymphoscintigraphy with 99mTc-Dx showed that vascularized lymph nodes had restored their normal function.


CONCLUSIONS
Vascularized lymph node transplantation is a useful method for draining extremity lymph edema.
Can
J
J
Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Second Medical University, China.
Cai
R
R
Li
S
S
Zhang
D
D
D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D007264:Inguinal Canal; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000637:transplantation*; D008297:Male; D008866:Microsurgery; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013667:Technetium; D013848:Thigh / Q000601:surgery; D015899:Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous
D013667:Technetium