Effect of temperature on transplantation immunity in Ambystoma mexicanum

Juvenile and mature neotenous Ambystoma mexicanum received allogeneic and xenogeneic skin transplants. Rejection times for 1st-set, and 3rd-set grafts were noted at 21 degrees C, and for axolotls placed in a cold-room at 7 degrees C 7 h post-grafting, 1 week post-grafting and 2 weeks post-grafting respectively. In all cases graft-rejection was chronic; 2nd and 3rd-set grafts were rejected progressively more rapidly than 1st-set grafts. An important temperature-sensitive event occurs during the 1st week post-grafting.