Effect of ex vivo hypothermic irradiation on duct-ligated pancreas allografts in dogs: functional, histological, and ultrastructural findings
Tersigni, R.; Toledo-Pereyra, L.H.; Palestini, M.; Cavallini, M.; Capua, G.; Caramia, F.; Stipa, S.
American Surgeon 46(12): 713-721
1980
ISSN/ISBN: 0003-1348 PMID: 7004287 Document Number: 166340
The functional, histological and ultrastructural effects of hypothermic irradiation on ductligated pancreas allografts in dogs were studied. Control animals survived for 5.0 .+-. 1.5 days (mean .+-. SE) and 6.0 .+-. 0.5 days after pancreatic transplantation. Animals that received irradiated pancreas transplants with 1000, 5000 or 10,000 rads prior to grafting survived for 19 .+-. 4.2, 27.5 .+-. 5.5 and 39 .+-. 7.5 days. The control transplanted pancreases showed significant inflammatory changes with some hemorrhage, fat necrosis and dilatation of the capillaries at the time of death. Early fibroblastic proliferation was a prominent finding in most rejected allografts from groups 2 and 3 which received moderate irradiation prior to transplantation. Interstitial fibrosis, interacinar and priolobar fibroblastic proliferation, and focal lymphocytic infiltrates were observed at the time of death in some dogs with pancreases irradiated with 10,000 rads. No noticeable ultrastructural alterations were seen in the specimens taken 1 h after the ducts were ligated or 1 h after 1000 rad treatment. One h after 5000 or 10,000 rad treatment, definite ultrastructural changes, mainly at the level of the mitochondria, were seen. All these changes were reversible. At no point after transplantation was functional endocrine damage due to irradiation seen. This hetertopic, segmental irradiated pancreatic transplantation technique appears to be safe and worth further experimental studies for clinical application.