Prolonged Survival of Liver Transplants in the Pig

Abstract

Further experience of orthotopic liver transplantation in the pig showed that vagotomy plus gastroduodenostomy seemed to prevent the previous high incidence of gastrointestinal haemorrhage. Liver transplants without immunosuppression consistently survived for long periods of time in immunologically mature animals even when the donor and recipient were from widely disparate genetic sources. The behaviour of the liver is in marked contrast to kidney and skin transplants, which are rapidly rejected in similar pigs. This work would not have been possible without the help of many of our colleagues. We are particularly indebted to Drs. M. Zakiewicz and J. Samuel. We are grateful to Mrs. M. Allen and the Department of Medical Illustration, Addenbrooke's Hospital, for the drawings, and to Dr. R. D. Keynes and the staff of the A.R.C. Institute of Animal Physiology, Babraham, for the use of their facilities and for their help. © 1967, British Medical Journal Publishing Group. All rights reserved.