Characterisation of the immune response in a neural xenograft rejection paradigm

We have looked at both donor and host MHC expression in a neural xenograft rejection paradigm. Grafts of either mouse corpus callosum or an SV40 large T transformed astrocytic cell line were placed in the mid-brain of neonatal rats. Three weeks later graft rejection was induced by the application of a skin graft of the same donor origin. MHC expression in the neural graft and the host brain was examined histologically four and ten days after the animals had received a skin graft. Donor MHC expression was detected in the corpus callosal grafts at both time points and preceded host MHC expression and the lymphocytic infiltrate. The grafts of the transformed cell line could not be induced to express MHC antigens under the experimental protocol used nor were they rejected. The migratory patterns of the transformed cells were compared to the well characterised migration patterns of astrocytes from the corpus callosal grafts.