Growth of porcine kidneys in their native and xenograft environment

The increased survival of hDAF pig-to-primate renal xenografts for up to tw o months has afforded the opportunity to study physiological aspects such a s organ growth. Experimental evidence exists of species restriction of the activity of growth hormone, although growth itself is also controlled by a number of other endocrine, paracrine and autocrine substances. This study consisted of four parts: (1) measurement of pig kidney size acco rding to pig body weight; (2) measurement of pig kidney size according to p ig age; (3) serial length measurement of pig-to-primate renal xenografts; ( 4) correlation of terminal weight of renal xenograft with age and histology . The xenografted pig kidneys in a primate recipient grow as they would in th e pig for the first two weeks after transplantation. After this time there is a reduction in the rate of increase in the length of the xenograft, Over the same period, changes in weight are greatly increased by the presence o f rejection. This observational study supports the notion that regulation o f growth of a xenotransplanted porcine kidney occurs.