ORGAN TRANSPLANTS IN DOGS AFTER CROSS-CIRCULATION, CHEMOTHERAPY, AND RADIATION

Journal Article · Thu Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1962 · Surgery (U.S.)

OSTI ID:4659517

Hechtman, H B; Blumenstock, D A; Thomas, E D; Ferrebee, J W

Attempts were made to improve the tolerance of dogs to homografts. Immunologic responsiveness of recipients was weakened by chemotherapy or radiation, and a considerable overloading with donor cellular antigen was attempted by repeated cross-circulation. Forty-four dogs were paired and subjected to two cross-circulations of 30 to 50 liters each at an interval of four weeks. The dogs were subdivided into five groups according to the treatment with antimetabolite or sublethal radiation given subject and partner. Dogs given antimetabolite (methotrexate or BW-57-322), in dosage known to inhibit immune response, frequently died of emaciation, infection, leukopenia, and thrombocytopenia if they had cross-circulation with a normal partner. Deaths did not occur when the immunologic responsiveness of the partner was weakened by radiation and chemotherapy. It is suggested that they were caused by the reactions of the immunologically competent cells contained in the blood of untreated partners. Drug toxicity per se did not appear to be the basis for the syndrome observed, since dogs not subjected to cross-circulation which received higher doses of methotrexate developed no wasting syndrome, and no leukopenia or thrombocytopenia. Cross-circulation did not improve survival of subsequent organ grafts from the cross-circulation partner. Prolongation of graft survival observed occasionally when drug or radiation therapy was also seen in animals treated with methotrexate alone. The lack of general success with cross- circulation, radiation, and chemotherapy illustrates the limitation of procedures intended to induce tolerance to organ grafts in adult dogs. (TCO)

• Research Organization: Mary Imogene Bassett Hospital, Cooperstown, N.Y.
• NSA Number: NSA-17-033752
• OSTI ID: 4659517
• Journal Information: Surgery (U.S.), Journal Name: Surgery (U.S.) Vol. Vol: 52; ISSN SURGA
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: English

Related Subjects

BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE