Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 18, 2026
A Rat Orthotopic Renal Transplantation Model for Renal Allograft Rejection
Published on: February 2, 2022
Surgical Anatomy and Microvascular Surgical Technique Relevant to Experimental Renal Transplant in Rat Employing
Badri Man Shrestha1, John Haylor
1From the Division of Renal Transplantation, Sheffield Kidney Institute, Northern General Hospital, Sheffield S5 7AU, United Kingdom.
Objectives:
Rat models of renal transplant are used to investigate immunologic processes and responses to therapeutic agents before their translation into routine clinical practice. In this study, we have described details of rat surgical anatomy and our experiences with the microvascular surgical technique relevant to renal transplant by employing donor inferior vena cava and aortic conduits.
Materials And Methods:
For this study, 175 rats (151 Lewis and 24 Fisher) were used to establish the Fisher-Lewis rat model of chronic allograft injury at our institution. Anatomic and technical details were recorded during the period of training and establishment of the model.
Results:
A final group of 12 transplanted rats were studied for an average duration of 51 weeks for the Lewis-to-Lewis isografts (5 rats) and 42 weeks for the Fisher-to-Lewis allografts (7 rats). Functional measurements and histology confirmed the diagnosis of chronic allograft injury.
Conclusions:
Mastering the anatomic details and microvascular surgical techniques can lead to the successful establishment of an experimental renal transplant model.
