Experimental transplantation
The technique for heterotopic cardiac transplantation in mice: experience of 3000 operations by one surgeon

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Abstract

Introduction

The mouse heterotopic fully vascularized cardiac transplantation model has come into widespread use. However, the technique is still difficult. Therefore, simple anastomosis was introduced.

Methods

The donor ascending aorta was sutured end-to-side to the recipient abdominal aorta and the donor pulmonary artery was anastomosed to the recipient inferior vena cava. The main point was only 4 stitches on 1 side between proximal and distal anastomosis of the recipient aorta and inferior vena cava.

Results

When beginners tried to perform the same procedure, they were able to complete the first successful procedure after 11 trials and achieved 90% success after 78 operations.

Summary

The simple anastomosis is safe and shortens the operation time.

Section snippets

Materials and methods

Mice, CBA (H2k), C3H (H2k), C57BL/10 (H2b), or CBK (H2k+Kb), Kb transgenic mice in the context of CBA (8), were purchased from Sankyo (Tokyo, Japan) and were housed in conventional facilities of Teikyo University or the University of Oxford and used between 8 and 12 weeks old in accordance with the Animals Scientific Procedures.

Improving operation time

More than 3000 heterotopic cardiac transplantations have been performed by one surgeon since 1994. The first successful transplantation was done after 20 trials and a 90% successful rate was achieved after 200 operations (Table 1). Operation time was decreased according to the number of operations and finally lasted 35 minutes per 1 operation (Figure 4). Success rate increased to 98% (Figure 5). The operation technique that was described on this paper was established after 1000

Discussion

To investigate transplantation study, small animal model is essential. Especially, mouse model is useful because of the many kinds of transgenic and gene knockout mice. However, heterotopic cardiac transplantation of mouse is much more difficult than that of a rat. Therefore, one of the simplest techniques was presented in this paper. The major point is the number of continuous stitches. First, 10 stitches on one side of aorta and IVC were taken. Too many sutures took a lot of time and annoyed

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