title: Test of long-term uterine survival after allogeneic transplantation in rabbits.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To see if: (i) a large vessel aortocaval vascular patch technique may bring about long-term graft survival after allogeneic uterine transplantation (UTn) in a rabbit model; and (ii) fertility can be achieved following natural mating post-allogeneic UTn.
  
  
  METHODS
  Allogeneic uterine cross transplantations were performed in New Zealand white rabbits using an aortocaval macrovascular patch harvested as part of the uterine allograft. Five rabbit recipients received a uterine graft from five unrelated donor rabbits. All female rabbits were unrelated and were of proven fertility with at least one previous litter each. Tacrolimus was administrated for immunosuppression post-transplant. Natural mating was attempted if long-term survival had been achieved. The main outcome measures were: (i) long-term recipient survival; (ii) long-term adequate uterine perfusion; and (iii) successful pregnancy post-UTn.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All five recipient animals survived the surgery with satisfactory immediate postoperative recovery. Recipients 1, 2 and 4 died within the first 4 postoperative days. Both long-term survivors failed to conceive following introduction of a proven male breeder despite evidence of mating. Necropsy at 9 and 11 months showed a lack of patency of uterine cornua at the point of anastomosis, albeit a small uterus in recipient 3 and a reddish brown amorphous material at the site of the transplanted uterus in recipient 5.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We have demonstrated the feasibility of uterine allotransplantation using a macrovascular patch technique, but could not demonstrate conception because of blocked cornua. To address this, we propose using embryo transfer techniques in order to achieve conception.
authors: Department of Surgery and Cancer, Institute of Reproductive and Developmental Biology, London, UK.
authors: Srdjan
authors: S
authors: Saso
authors: Simon
authors: S
authors: Hurst
authors: Jayanta
authors: J
authors: Chatterjee
authors: Eugene
authors: E
authors: Kuzmin
authors: Yau
authors: Y
authors: Thum
authors: Anna L
authors: AL
authors: David
authors: Nadey
authors: N
authors: Hakim
authors: David J
authors: DJ
authors: Corless
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Boyd
authors: David E
authors: DE
authors: Noakes
authors: Iain
authors: I
authors: Lindsay
authors: Sadaf
authors: S
authors: Ghaem-Maghami
authors: Giuseppe
authors: G
authors: Del Priore
authors: J Richard
authors: JR
authors: Smith
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility; D006085:Graft Survival; D011817:Rabbits; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous; D014599:Uterus / Q000098:blood supply / Q000637:transplantation*; D065506:Vascular Closure Devices / Q000009:adverse effects*
keywords: allogeneic uterine transplantation; fertility; graft survival; rabbit model