Arterial umbilical cord as tubal replacement. A preliminary report

In ten white New Zealand rabbits a one cm long human arterial cord graft was transplanted after resection of 0,5 cm of isthmus by microsurgical technique. The umbilical artery was previously prepared under microscope and treated for suppression of cord antigens. After two episodes of mating, no pregnancies were observed in the operated side, but total patency was demonstrated in 2 case (20%) and only distal occlusion in 2 more (20%). In 4 cases (40%) the growth of mucosa by apocrine metaplasia was histologically observed and in 5 cases (50%) the presence of foreign body reaction was detected. The hystological findings are presented and the results discussed.