Effect of kidney perfusion on renal allograft survival in azathioprine treated rats

A simple method of orthotopic renal transplantation in the rat is briefly described. With this method the ability of azathioprine to prolong the survival of renal transplants in rats has been studied. Measurement of the amount of blood contained in a transplanted kidney has been made as this is the major source of passenger cells which can immunize the recipient. The efficacy of removal of blood by perfusion of the kidney before transplantation with its effect on the efficiency of azathioprine in preventing rejection has been studied. Using a standard 12 mg/kg daily dose of azathioprine, survival and histological damage to the graft is shown to be related to the amount of blood present in the kidney at the time of transplantation. Rat renal allograft rejection may be used as an assay system of the effect of immunosuppressive drugs so long as the same procedure is used throughout the experiment.