Induction of immune tolerance with heart-thymus composite allotransplantation in rats

摘要

Objective To study on the role of thymus transplantation for heart allograft in rats. Methods Vascu- larized heart-thymus combined transplantation was performed with microsurgical technique. Graft survival, histopa-thology, level of IL-2, IL-4 and its mRNA expression in serum and cardiac grafts were investigated. Results Heart-thymus combined transplantation achieved effect in the prolongation of cardiac graft survival with short-term administration of cyclosporine. Conclusions Vascularized thymus transplantation induced immune tolerance in thymectomized rats.