title: Formation of microchimerism in rat small bowel transplantation by splenocyte infusion.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effect of donor splenocyte infusion combined with cyclosporine A (CsA) on rejection of rat small bowel transplantation (SBT).
  
  
  METHODS
  Male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats and female Wistar rats weighing 230-270 g were used as donors and recipients respectively in the study. Heterotopic small bowel transplantation was performed. The rats were divided into three groups: group one receiving allotransplantation (SD rarr Wistar), group two receiving allotransplantation (SD rarr Wistar) + donor splenocyte infusion, group three receiving allotransplantation (SD rarr Wistar) + donor splenocyte infusion + CsA followed by CsA 10 mg/kg per day after transplantation, in which recipient Wistar rats were injected with 2 x 10(8) SD splenocytes 28 d before transplantation, and treated with CsA after transplantation. Finally, the specific DNA fragment of donor Y chromosome was detected in recipient peripheral blood and skin by PCR. The survival time after small bowel transplantation was observed. Gross and histopathological examinations were performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The survival time after small bowel trans-plantation was 7.1 +/- 1.2 d in group 1, 18.4 +/- 3.6 d in group 2 and 31.5 +/- 3.1 d in group 3. The survival time was significant longer (P < 0.01) in group 3 than in groups 1 and 2. The gross and histopathological examination showed that the rejection degree in group 3 was lower than that in groups 1 and 2.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Donor splenocyte infusion combined with CsA decreases remarkably the rejection and prolongs the survival time after rat small bowel transplantation.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150001, Heilongjiang Province, China.
authors.forename: Da-Xun
authors.initials: DX
authors.lastname: Piao
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Lian-Xin
authors.initials: LX
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: An-Long
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Shao-Feng
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: Ying-Hui
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Guan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017690:Cell Transplantation; D046528:Chimerism; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000494:pharmacology; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006085:Graft Survival / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology / Q000637:transplantation*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology* / Q000637:transplantation*
chemical_list: D016572:Cyclosporine; D004247:DNA