A microsurgical technique for renal transplantation in mice

A modified technique for the transplantation of primarily vascularized mouse kidneys is described in which the donor was prepared by exposure of the left kidney, dissection of the suprarenal aorta and vena cava and of the ureter and bladder. The recipient was prepared by exposure of the infrarenal aorta and vena cava and isolation of approximately 1 cm of these vessels by proximal and distal 4/0 silk ties. The donor kidney was then perfused and removed to the recipient with the ureter and bladder. The transplant was completed by microsurgical end-to-side anastomosis of the aorta to aorta and vena cava to vena cava and the donor ureter was attached to the recipient bladder via a bladder patch. This technique differed significantly from the previously published technique in using cuffs of donor suprarenal aorta and vena cava rather than dissecting the base of the renal vessels. These changes made the operation easier and reduced ischaemia time from 35-40 to 25-30 min, a substantial improvement which increased both organ and recipient survival.