Successful tracheal transplantation with fresh allografts in a rabbit model.
OBJECTIVE
Immunogenicity and the restoration of blood supply to the donor graft remains a clinical challenge in tracheal allotransplantation. We conducted a study on 20 rabbits of a genetically similar strain to eliminate the risk of rejection caused by immunogenicity.


METHODS
We examined the histomorphological changes related to revascularization and the immunogenic reaction of the fresh allografts after tracheal transplantation. Histomorphological assessment was conducted by investigating the anastomotic sites, graft necrosis, and epithelization. Cellular changes, including the infiltration of granulocytes, histiocytes, and fibroblast proliferation related to a granulation tissue-like reaction, were also assessed, with lymphocyte infiltration which is an indicator of graft rejection. All of these characteristics, apart from epithelization, were graded semiquantitatively as none (0), mild (1), moderate (2), and severe (3). Epithelization was graded as 0, indicating no epithelization; 1, < or =20%; 2, < or =40%; 3, < or =60%; 4, < or =80; 5, complete epithelization of the entire graft.


RESULTS
Morphologic integrity of the trachea was completely retained in 16 (80%) animals. The overall rating score of epithelization was 3.6+/-1.0, while those of the granulation tissue-like reaction and lymphocyte infiltration were 4.8+/-0.6 and 1.5+/-0.7, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings demonstrate that tracheal allotransplantation is possible with fresh allografts in genetically similar strains of rabbits.
Dikmen
Erkan
E
Department of Thoracic Surgery, Ankara University School of Medicine, Ibn-i Sina Hospital, Sihhiye, Turkey.
Kara
Murat
M
Cakmak
Hüseyin
H
Orhan
Diclehan
D
Heper
Aylin Okçu
AO
Güngör
Adem
A
D000818:Animals; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006084:Graft Rejection; D011817:Rabbits; D014132:Trachea / Q000098:blood supply / Q000637:transplantation*; D014181:Transplantation Immunology; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous