A model of isolated, vascular whole thymus transplantation in nude rats.
BACKGROUND
We used a model of vascularized thymus lobes as a whole isolated organ transplantation in rats.


METHODS
Male Fisher rats (F344, RT11v1; n = 10) and male homozygous Rowett nude rats (rnu/rnu; n = 10) were used as donors and recipients, respectively. Both vascular lobes of the thymus as a whole isolated organ were heterotopically transplanted to the neck of recipients. The right common carotid artery of the donor thymus was anastomosed end-to-end to the homonymous artery of the recipient. The anterior vena cava and the left brachiocephalic vein of the donor thymus were anastomosed end-to-side to the right and left external jugular veins of the recipient, respectively. Histological examination was used to monitor graft viability; graft function was assessed using flow cytometry (FCM) and immunologic effects by skin grafts in vivo.


RESULTS
All recipients survived. Preparation of the donors and recipients took 35.6 ± 5.5 minutes and 60.3 ± 15.1 minutes, respectively. The blood supply to the thymus graft was patent. Histology of the thymus on postoperative days 14, 56, and 112 revealed viable grafts with preserved microarchitecture. FCM analysis showed 37.18 ± 11.1% CD3+ T cells at day 21 after transplantation. Skin grafts from F344 and Rowett rats survived 8-10 and more than 30 days, respectively, whereas all third-party Sprague Dawley grafts were rejected within 5 days.


CONCLUSIONS
We developed a novel model of isolated, direct vascularized whole thymus transplantation in nude rats, in which both lobes of the fully vascularized thymus were harvested en bloc for successful transplantation.
Department of Kidney Transplantation, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
D
D
Zhao
L
L
Wang
N
N
Na
Z
Z
Huang
B
B
Miao
L
L
Hong
D000818:Animals; D016121:Brachiocephalic Veins / Q000601:surgery; D017536:Carotid Artery, Common / Q000601:surgery; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000276:immunology; D006085:Graft Survival; D007601:Jugular Veins / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D023421:Models, Animal; D051381:Rats; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344; D011923:Rats, Nude; D016038:Skin Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology; D013934:Thymectomy; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000276:immunology / Q000637:transplantation*; D013997:Time Factors; D014022:Tissue Survival; D023001:Transplantation Tolerance; D014656:Vascular Surgical Procedures; D014684:Venae Cavae / Q000601:surgery