[Lung transplantation in rats: a viable experimental model]

To incorporate a new fast, safe, and reversible anesthetic procedure into the experimental model of lung transplantation (LT) using a cuff technique originally described by Mizuta.

Eighty-eight Sprague-Dawley rats were used in the experimental model. Thirty left LTs were performed, using 60 rats. The donor heart-lung block was excised by median sternotomy with dissection of the left lung and cuffs (intravenous catheters cut into 3-mm sections) were put in place. The left lung was implanted in the recipient by lateral thoracotomy using the cuffs for anastomoses. The duration of surgery and postoperative complications were recorded. Also noted were signs of ischemia-reperfusion injury, and acute rejection of the transplanted lung.

We discarded lungs excised from 8 animals when developing the experimental model. Transplants could not be completed in 10 rats due to technical problems, despite satisfactory excision. Of the rats who received a transplant, 4 died in the first 24 hours and 26 survived to 48 hours. They were then killed and examined. The state of the anastomoses was good and signs of ischemia-reperfusion injury, as well as acute rejection were observed in the parenchyma of the transplanted lung.

LT with cuffs in rats is a valid, reliable, reproducible, and cheap model for studying ischemia-reperfusion injury and rejection in LT. The surgical technique is complex, requiring experienced surgeons and a long learning process. Modification of the technique to more closely resemble the surgical procedure in humans is possible, thus facilitating interpretation and allowing more reliable extrapolation to humans.