Rat neonatal intestinal wall-free graft.
An experimental study was carried out in order to evaluate the regeneration capacity of the neonatal intestinal wall in ischaemia and its repercussion over organs of the immune system such as the spleen. We isolated a reservoir of small intestine in adult Sprague-Dawley rats that, after having been everted and placed at a subcutaneous level, was grafted with a free small intestine segment of neonatal Sprague-Dawley rats and analysed 3, 15 and 30 days after grafting. Samples obtained were stained with Martin's trichromic stain and studied at the light microscopic level. A total regeneration of the crypt architecture, formed by absorptive enterocytes, was observed in the interior of the reservoirs. A quantitative immunohistochemical study with monoclonal antibodies against CD4, CD8, MHC I and MHC II was carried out in the spleen of these animals. An additional immunohistochemical study was also performed in the small intestine reservoirs and spleen of transplanted animals using nitric oxide synthase (NOS) antibodies. Three days after transplantation NOS immunoreactive cells were observed in the reservoirs with transplanted neonatal small intestine. Antigenic stimulation produced, in the spleen red pulp of transplanted animals, a significant increase (P < 0.001) in the percentage of NOS, CD8 and MHC I immunoreactive cells in relation with values observed in control animals. These morphometric changes could be related with the stimulation that nitric oxide produces in the proliferation of the cytotoxic T cells.
Losada
J
J
Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Hospital Cruces, Basque Country University, Spain. onploroj@lg.ehu.es
Juarros
B
B
Lopez Ariztegui
M A
MA
Fernandez Val
J F
JF
Sarria
R
R
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000662:veterinary; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology / Q000637:transplantation*; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley / Q000601:surgery*; D013154:Spleen / Q000276:immunology*
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase