RENAL TRANSPLANTATION IN RABBITS

The frequency, localization and time of IgG deposition have been studied in 48 renal allografts from rabbits with donor specific lymphocytotoxic antibodies prior to kidney transplantation. The antibodies were induced by multiple skin-grafts. The kidney grafts were removed three hours to five days after transplantation. Glomerular and/or vascular IgG deposits were found in 25 of the 48 allografts. Ten of these 25 allografts presented histological evidence of hyperacute or accelerated rejection, five other allografts were removed because of clinical hyperacute rejection, but were without histological signs of rejection, and the last ten allografts with IgG deposits had alterations similar to those found in allografts from non-sensitized rabbits. In the 23 allografts without glomerular or vascular IgG deposits, hyperacute or accelerated rejection was demonstrated by light microscopy in 12 cases, three allografts were removed because of clinical rejection, but were without histological signs of rejection, and the last eight allografts had alterations similar to those in allografts from non-sensitized rabbits. The frequency of glomerular IgG deposits was greater and the deposits appeared earlier in allografts from sensitized than in allografts from nonsensitized rabbits. The apparantly increased frequency of vascular IgG deposits was not statistically significant. No constant relation was found between IgG deposits and lymphocytotoxic antibodies or histological alterations in the allografts—even in cases with accelerated or hyperacute rejection.