title: A subcutaneous heterotopic limb transplantation model in the mouse for prolonged allograft survival.
abstract: A heterotopic position of a limb allograft is advantageous in the fragile mouse model to reduce mortality but is prone to autotomy. The purpose of this study was to describe a new heterotopic limb transplantation model in the mouse for prolonged allograft survival. Eleven lower hindlimbs were transplanted in a heterotopic subcutaneous position in the groin of the recipient animal with the donor skin inset as a skin paddle for monitoring. Seven transplants were syngeneic (Balb/c) and four were allogeneic (C57Bl/6 donor). The overall success rate (acute survival < 7 days) was 73% (8/11) and the mortality rate was 18% (2/11). Five of seven syngeneic transplants survived for 60 days and were harvested for histology. Recipients of successful allogeneic transplants (n = 3) received no immunosuppression and rejected their allografts between 8 and 11 days postoperatively. Mixed lymphocyte culture and flow cytometry demonstrated secondary immune responses by pre-sensitized animals, and histology showed lymphocytic infiltration and necrosis consistent with acute rejection.
authors.affiliation: Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA. tungt@msnotes.wustl.edu
authors.forename: T H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Tung
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mohanakumar
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Mackinnon
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005121:Extremities / Q000637:transplantation*; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005440:Fluid Therapy; D006085:Graft Survival; D007959:Lymphocyte Culture Test, Mixed; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008954:Models, Biological; D016042:Transplantation, Heterotopic / Q000276:immunology / Q000379:methods; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous