Secondary Transplantation Following a Period of Isografting: Experimental Study in Rats

ABSTRACT

The authors describe a study in which groin flaps from 20 Wistar rats were transplanted to another group of 20 Wistar rats and, after various time intervals, the groin flaps were re-transplanted back to the original animals. The goal of the first transfers was to preserve the flap in the second group of animals (isopreservation). During the isopreservation period, the second rat (the preserver) was treated with steroids or FK506 for immunosuppression. Thirty-three free groin flap transfers were performed between 40 rats. If possible, the same flap was transferred twice between two animals, one as an isograft, and other as an autograft following an isopreservation period in 13 pairs of animals. (A second transfer was not possible in seven pairs of animals.) The period for isopreservation varied between 2 days and 1 week. The survival of the flap was observed by visual inspection, laser Doppler flowmeter measurements, and was correlated with serial histopathologic examinations of skin and vessel biopsy specimens, including the anastomosis site. The severity of histopathologic signs that might be related to developing rejection was increased by the preservation time, and was more noticeable after the second transfer. The authors showed that successful secondary transplantation of the rat groin flap with a 1-week follow-up could be achieved, following isopreservation of at least up to 5 days.

KEYWORD

Secondary transplantation - isografting - rat model

REFERENCES

• 1 Hierner R, Betz A M, Comtet J J, Berger A C. Decision making and results in subtotal and total lower leg amputations: reconstruction versus amputation.  Microsurgery . 1995;  16 830
• 2 Godina M, Bajec J, Baraga A. Salvage of the mutilated upper extremity with temporary ectopic implantation of the undamaged part.  Plast Reconstr Surg . 1986;  78 295
• 3 Graf P, Groner R, Horl W. Temporary ectopic implantation for salvage of amputated digits.  Br J Plast Surg . 1996;  49 174
• 4 Kayikçioglu A, Agaoglu G, Nasir S, Keçik A. Crossover replantation and fillet flap coverage of the stump after ectopic implantation: a case of bilateral leg amputation.  Plast Reconstr Surg . 2000;  106 868
• 5 Razaboni R, Shaw W. Preservation of tissue for transplantation and replantation.  Clin Plast Surg . 1983;  10 211
• 6 Kaufman H H, Huchton J D, Patten B M. Limb preservation for reimplantation: a review.  Microsurgery . 1980;  2 36
• 7 Ballantyne D L, Reid C A, Harper A D, Shaw W W. The effects of short term preservation on microvascular free groin flaps in rats.  Microsurgery . 1980;  2 101
• 8 Smith A R, Alphen D B, Faithfull S, Fennema M. Limb preservation in replantation surgery.  Plast Reconstr Surg . 1985;  75 227
• 9 Werker P MN, Kon M, Green C. Survival characteristics of the epigastric free flap in DA rats.  Microsurgery . 1992;  13 67
• 10 Matloub H S, Housif N J, Sanger J R. Temporary ectopic implantation of an amputated penis.  Plast Reconstr Surg . 1994;  93 408
• 11 Yousif N J, Dzwierzynski W W, Anderson R C. Complications and salvage of an ectopically replanted thumb.  Plast Reconstr Surg . 1996;  97 637
• 12 Mangus D J. Ectopic revascularization using the inferior epigastric system.  Plast Reconstr Surg . 1987;  79 495
• 13 Yenidünya M O, Yenidünya S. Initially alloperfused autograft: an experimental study with rat groin flap.  Plast Reconstr Surg . 2000;  105 648
• 14 Batchelor J R, Welsh K I, Maynard A, Burgos H. Failure of long surviving, passively enhanced kidney allografts to provoke T-dependant alloimmunity.  J Exp Med . 1979;  150 455
• 15 Welsh K I, Batchelor J R, Maynard A, Burgos H. Failure of long surviving, passively enhanced kidney allografts to provoke T-dependent alloimmunity.  J Exp Med . 1979;  150 465
• 16 Sugarbaker P H, McCullough C S, Deutsch H L. Retransplantation of murine skin allografts: assessment of treatment effects on the allograft in the absence of effects on the host.  J Immunol Methods . 1984;  72 361
• 17 Codner M A, Shuster B A, Steinman R M. Migration of donor leukocytes from limb allografts into host lymphoid tissues.  Ann Plast Surg . 1990;  25 353
• 18 Johnson P C, Barker J H. Thrombosis and antithrombotic therapy in microvascular surgery.  Clin Plast Surg . 1992;  19 799
• 19 Siemionow M, Kimori K, Lister G. Microcirculatory hemodynamics during the acute phase of free vascularized muscle allograft rejection.  Ann Plast Surg . 1998;  41 275
• 20 Roberts I SD, Brenchley P EC. Mast cells: the forgotten cells of renal fibrosis.  J Clin Pathol . 2000;  53 858