title: Establishing a new orthotopic composite hemiface/calvaria transplantation model in rabbits.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Composite tissue allograft transplantation provides a better reconstructive option for patients who suffer from extensive craniomaxillofacial deformities. However, there is a lack of sufficient experimental data including anatomical and immunologic aspects in larger animals. The purpose of this study was to develop a new orthotopic composite hemiface/calvaria transplantation model in rabbits with which to estimate the feasibility of composite tissue allografts.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 36 rabbits were studied. The anatomical features were explored in six rabbits. Group I (n = 6) represented the autograft group. In the allograft control group (group II, n = 12) and the treatment group (group III, n = 12), orthotopic composite hemiface/calvaria allotransplantations were performed from Dutch to Japanese White rabbits. Recipients in the treatment group received low-dose cyclosporine A/prednisone combination therapy. Evaluation methods included clinical inspection, histologic analysis, immunohistochemistry, and radiography.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The animals in the autograft group survived indefinitely. Four of six nontreated allografts were rejected within 7 to 10 days. In the treatment group, five of six recipients showed no signs of rejection up to the endpoint of the study. Only one recipient died as a result of anorexia, on day 18. The histologic outcomes were well correlated with clinical inspection. Bone biopsy specimens at posttransplant days 7 and 120 revealed viable bone. Radiologic grade at day 120 showed no significant difference between the autograft (10.67 +/- 1.03) and treatment groups (9.2 +/- 1.30).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Low-dose cyclosporine A/prednisone combination therapy does not influence bone viability and healing. A new orthotopic hemiface/calvaria allotransplantation model was established successfully that allows further studies on reconstruction of extensive craniomaxillofacial defects.
authors.affiliation: Harbin, People's Republic of China From the Department of Plastic Surgery, the Second Hospital of Harbin Medical University.
authors.forename: Chunlei
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nie
authors.forename: Daping
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Ning
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Guofeng
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Tiefang
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Guo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016025:Bone Transplantation / Q000473:pathology; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000494:pharmacology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005145:Face / Q000601:surgery*; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000473:pathology; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D008953:Models, Anatomic; D011241:Prednisone / Q000494:pharmacology; D011817:Rabbits; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology; D012886:Skull / Q000473:pathology / Q000637:transplantation*; D020858:Tissue and Organ Harvesting; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D016572:Cyclosporine; D011241:Prednisone