In the PVG (RT1(c)) to DA(RT1(a)) rat combination, liver allografts are spontaneously accepted across a complete MHC barrier while cardiac and renal allografts are rejected. We postulated that this spontaneous liver acceptance was associated with the large quantity of antigen in the transplanted liver. In order to test this hypothesis, we have developed three different models of multiorgan transplantation: model I, triple heart transplantation; model II, triple kidney transplantation; and model III, double heart and double kidney transplantation. The results showed that prolongation of heart and kidney allografts was achieved with the increasing number of organs transplanted. The models proved reliable and useful in transplant immunological studies.
Copyright 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.