title: Modified uterine allotransplantation and immunosuppression procedure in the sheep model.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To develop an orthotopic, allogeneic, uterine transplantation technique and an effective immunosuppressive protocol in the sheep model.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this pilot study, 10 sexually mature ewes were subjected to laparotomy and total abdominal hysterectomy with oophorectomy to procure uterus allografts. The cold ischemic time was 60 min. End-to-end vascular anastomosis was performed using continuous, non-interlocking sutures. Complete tissue reperfusion was achieved in all animals within 30 s after the vascular re-anastomosis, without any evidence of arterial or venous thrombosis. The immunosuppressive protocol consisted of tacrolimus, mycophenolate mofetil and methylprednisolone tablets. Graft viability was assessed by transrectal ultrasonography and second-look laparotomy at 2 and 4 weeks, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Viable uterine tissue and vascular patency were observed on transrectal ultrasonography and second-look laparotomy. Histological analysis of the graft tissue (performed in one ewe) revealed normal tissue architecture with a very subtle inflammatory reaction but no edema or stasis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We have developed a modified procedure that allowed us to successfully perform orthotopic, allogeneic, uterine transplantation in sheep, whose uterine and vascular anatomy (apart from the bicornuate uterus) is similar to the human anatomy, making the ovine model excellent for human uterine transplant research.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Xijing Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Xue
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Guang-Yue
authors.initials: GY
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Geng
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Zhi-Hong
authors.initials: ZH
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Yan-Hong
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Xiang-Dong
authors.initials: XD
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Hai-Xia
authors.initials: HX
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Sheng-Ru
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: Fang
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Bi-Liang
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D006085:Graft Survival; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D016377:Organ Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D011182:Postoperative Care; D012756:Sheep; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous; D014599:Uterus / Q000637:transplantation*