[Intrathoracic half-working heart and lung transplantation in the rat]

A new technique of intrathoracic half-working heart-lung transplantation in the rat was established. Donor heart-left lung graft was transplanted into left hemithorax of the recipient with aorta-aorta, bronchus-bronchus and superior vena cava (SVC)-SVC anastomoses, and the recipient's descending aorta proximal to the anastomosis was ligated. Five isografts (Lewis-Lewis) showed excellent cardiopulmonary function 4 weeks after transplantation. In 11 allografts (DA-Lewis), 5 rats without immunosuppression survived in 4-6 postoperative days and 6 rats with cyclosporine 10 mg/kg/day were alive during 8-14 days after operation. Nine of 11 allografts demonstrated moderate to severe (ISHLT grade 3-4) acute rejection and the grade of lung rejection was higher than that of heart rejection in 4 of 9 allografts.