title: A modified rat model of acute limb allograft rejection.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of this study was to determine the feasibility of a simplified model of acute limb allograft rejection.
  
  
  METHODS
  Wistar rats were donors (n=18), and Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were recipients (n=36). They were divided into a traditional and a modified model group. In the traditional group, the hind limb of the recipient was removed; blood vessels, bone, and nerve anastomoses were performed. In the modified group, the hind limb of the recipient was maintained while the allografted limb was transplanted near inside the original hind limb with only blood vessel anastomoses performed, and the donor limb was fixed in place by suturing muscle and skin.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The ischemic time of the donor limbs in the modified group was significantly less than the traditional group (67±19.1 minutes vs 127±15 minutes; P<.0001). In the traditional group, 12 models (66.7%) were successful and 6 failed, whereas in the modified group, 17 (94.4%) were successful and 1 failed (P=.087). Acute rejection occurred in all surviving rats; the time and characteristics of rejection were similar in the 2 groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The simplified rat hind limb allotransplantation model described herein offers a greater success rate and shorter operative time than the traditional model while providing the same rejection characteristics.
authors.affiliation: Orthopedic Department, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, People's Republic of China. zzyuu@21cn.com
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Meng
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Bi
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D006614:Hindlimb / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology / Q000637:transplantation*; D008297:Male; D009336:Necrosis; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013997:Time Factors; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous