Ipsilateral lymphadenectomy to inhibit corneal allograft rejection in rats

In order to investigate the ipsilateral lymphadenectomy for inhibiting rejection in rat corneal transplantation, corneal allogenic transplantation models were established in rats. Eighteen female Wister rats were used as donors, and 36 Sprague Dawley rats as recipients. After penetrating corneal transplantation, recipients were randomly divided into 3 groups: group A (control group); group B, the ipsilateral lymphadenectomy group; group C, the bilateral lymphadenectomy group. Among 12 rats in each group, the corneas of 2 rats in each group were used for pathological study at day 14 after the transplantation, and the remaining 10 rats were used for studying corneal rejection by a slit lamp. The time points when allograft rejection occurred were recorded and mean survival time (MST) was compared. The results showed that MST in groups B and C was 46.30 +/- 9. 464 days and 44.43 +/- 7. 604 days, respectively, which was significantly prolonged as compared with that in group A (10.71 +/- 1.567 days, P < 0.01). There was no significant difference in MST between groups B and C (P > 0.05). It was concluded that both bilateral and ipsilateral lymphadenectomy therapies could effectively inhibit the corneal allograft rejection. Ipsilateral lymphadenectomy is a less complex surgical procedure and is just as effective in preventing rejection.