SIMULTANEOUS TRANSPLANTATION OF KIDNEY AND DUCT-LIGATED SEGMENTAL PANCREAS IN THE RAT

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Abstract
A new surgical technique of simultaneous kidney and pancreas transplantation is described here. It was used to perform 28 isografts in inbred male Wistar (RT1y) rats: 3 animals died within 3 days from early complications and 4 had long-term complications (2 severe pancreatitis and 2 urinary tract complications); 1 animal was killed at 3 mo., and its organs were examined histologically. At > 4 mo. after transplantation 2 animals died normoglycemic from undetermined causes. In 3 animals the isografted pancreas was removed at 6 mo. to assess the effectiveness of the transplant. Currently, 15 animals are alive and normoglycemic > 6 mo. after transplantation. Morphological aspects of simultaneously isografted organs are unchanged when compared with separately transplanted organs. This technique provides a useful experimental model to study several technical and immunological problems still present in kidney and pancreas transplantation in diabetic patients.