A PRESERVED NATIVE KIDNEY ALTERS ACUTE RENAL-ALLOGRAFT REJECTION IN THE RAT

In this study the effect of a native recipient kidney on acute rat ren al allograft rejection is analysed. The authors performed a sequential daily analysis of allograft morphology and infiltration by macrophage s and T cells in the presence and the absence of a recipient kidney, S everal differences among both experimental groups were observed. Infil trating macrophages and T cells in the allograft interstitium were mor e numerous in the presence than in the absence of a recipient kidney. The ratio of macrophages to T cells was 2:1 in the presence and 1:1 in the absence of a recipient kidney. Interstitial allograft infiltratio n started 1 day earlier in the presence of a contralateral kidney than in its absence. Graft necrosis occurred on day 6 and was complete in the presence of a native kidney. After total nephrectomy a patchy patt ern of necrotic and viable tubules was observed from day 5 until the d eath of the animal. The diameter of monocytes in graft vessels increas ed only moderately in the presence of a recipient kidney but duplicate d in its absence, The authors propose that in experimental renal trans plantation contralateral nephrectomy should be performed according to a standardized schedule.