The effect of PCO (yeast respiratory stimulator) on treated and untreated dog renal allografts

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Abstract
Procytoxide (PCO), a yeast respiratory stimulating extract, improves, on a dose‐related basis, the survival rate in azathioprine (Imuran) treated mongrel dog renal allografts. This effect is associated with a significant and sustained decrease in total lymphocyte counts and increased lymphoid depletion apparent in bone marrow aspirates. PCO treatment alone, while decreasing total lymphocyte levels post‐operatively in renal allografted dogs, fails to increase survival rates or apparently modify the rejection process in the renal allograft. PCO treatment does not reduce serum folate levels, and it is not an antifolate agent. PCO fails to improve to a significant degree renal allograft survival in pretreated animals or animals sensitized by prior skin grafting before renal transplantation. Thus, PCO in part protects the bone marrow and kidney from unmonitored but toxic effects of azathioprine (Imuran).