PROCESSES FOR THE PREPARATION OF A PIGLET FOR XENO-ORGAN TRANSPLANTATION

摘要

A process for raising a piglet for use in xeno-organ transplantation is provided to reduce particular immunocytes such as white blood cells, CD4+ T and CD8+ T cells through total body irradiation(TBI). A piglet for use in xeno-organ transplantation of heart, kidney, lung, liver, pancreas etc., is raised by carrying out total body irradiation to a piglet of 3-7 weeks old at an absorbed dose of 300-500cGY. For the irradiation, X-rays, gamma-rays, or electron beams are used. In result of the total body irradiation, the piglet shows hematological profile with selectively reduced white blood cells, CD4+ T and CD8+ T cells, without making a significant change in blood concentration required for living, i.e., red blood cells.