Influence of selective splenectomy on survival of cardiac and skin allografts in enhanced rats

Pretreatment of LEW rats with donor cells and antidonor antiserum 11 and 12 days before transplantation, respectively, extends survival of (LEW x FN)F1 heart grafts from 1 to about 4 weeks. Previous investigations have shown that the spleen responds dynamically to the immunization regimen and to the...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inTransplantation Vol. 30; no. 1; p. 59
Main Authors Birinyi, Jr, L K, Baldwin, 3rd, W M, Tilney, N L
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States 01.07.1980
Subjects
Animals
Graft Enhancement, Immunologic
Graft Survival
Heart Transplantation
Lymphocytes - immunology
Male
Rats
Rats, Inbred BN
Rats, Inbred Lew
Skin Transplantation
Spleen - immunology
Splenectomy
Transplantation, Homologous
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Summary:Pretreatment of LEW rats with donor cells and antidonor antiserum 11 and 12 days before transplantation, respectively, extends survival of (LEW x FN)F1 heart grafts from 1 to about 4 weeks. Previous investigations have shown that the spleen responds dynamically to the immunization regimen and to the graft itself by transient trapping of antigen-sensitive cells and massive proliferation of antibody-producing cells. In the present study we have noted that splenectomy performed before recipient pretreatment decreases graft survival. When splenectomy is performed during the periods in which the spleen is responding substantially after immunization and after transplantation, graft survival is increased remarkably (MST greater than 10 weeks, with the majority of grafts surviving indefinitely). Removal of antigen-sensitive cells trapped transiently in the spleen does not fully explain this striking effect, as an 11-day interval between pretreatment and transplantation is required for optimal graft survival in splenectomized hosts. Additionally, splenectomy is ineffective in increasing survival of skin grafts in enhanced animals, reconfirming the primary importance of the regional draining lymph nodes in rejection of these grafts.
ISSN:0041-1337
DOI:10.1097/00007890-198007000-00013