Formation of microchimerism in rat small bowel transplantation by splenocyte infusion.
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.
Piao
Da-Xun
DX
Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150001, Heilongjiang Province, China.
Jiang
Tao
T
Liu
Lian-Xin
LX
Zhu
An-Long
AL
Jin
Shao-Feng
SF
Guan
Ying-Hui
YH
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*
D016572:Cyclosporine; D004247:DNA