title: A rat model designed for the continuous intraarterial infusion of cyclosporine.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Limb allotransplantation is not a life-saving treatment. However, large doses of immunosuppressive agents are needed. There is an urgent need to increase the selectivity and targeting of drugs.
  
  
  METHODS
  We designed a rat model for intraarterial infusion of cyclosporine (CSA) based on the hindlimb replanted model to simulate the limb allotransplantation. To investigate whether intraartery infusion could improve the drug's distribution, we infused CSA 4.0 mg/kg per day continuously into either the superficial epigastric artery (IA group) or superficial epigastric vein (IV group) of Lewis rats.
  
  
  RESULTS
  On day 10, CSA concentrations were measured in skin, muscle, and bone tissues of hindlimb. Samples were taken from different parts of the bilateral hindlimbs in the IA group and right hindlimb only in the IV group. Tissue concentrations of the perfusion side were much higher in IA group. Systemic concentrations of IA group were higher than IV group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results warrant further research in our next limb allotransplantation model.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Xi Jing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China.
authors.forename: J-J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Guangzhou Red Cross Hospital, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: L-G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Xi Jing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China. Electronic address: bilongsci@163.com.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bi
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Xi Jing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China. Electronic address: peiguoxiansci2@163.com.
authors.forename: G-X
authors.initials: GX
authors.lastname: Pei
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D006614:Hindlimb / Q000378:metabolism / Q000637:transplantation*; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D007261:Infusions, Intra-Arterial; D008297:Male; D023421:Models, Animal; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D012092:Replantation; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous; D063986:Vascularized Composite Allotransplantation
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D016572:Cyclosporine