The Outcome of Neurovascularized Allogeneic Muscle Transplantation Under Immunosuppression with Cyclosporine

ABSTRACT

A model of neurovascularized rectus femoris muscle transplantation was established using inbred rats, and histologic and electrophysiologic investigations were carried out with respect to: 1) whether allogeneic muscle grafts could be established during low-dose, continuous, cyclosporine administration; 2) whether functional restoration of the grafted muscle was possible; and 3) whether immunologic tolerance could be induced by administering a 6-week, low-dose, continuous course of cyclosporine. In the animals continuously administered cyclosporine, no rejection was observed until 12 weeks after surgery; the grafts were completely viable; and M waves could be induced by stimulation of the femoral nerve motor branch. In the animals administered cyclosporine for 6 weeks, rejection was observed 7 weeks after surgery (1 week after discontinuation of immunosuppression), and the grafts became completely necrotic after 10 weeks. These findings suggest that neurovascularized muscle allografts show functional recovery similar to autografts under continuous, low-dose administration of cyclosporine, but that rejection occurs early, and immunologic tolerance does not develop, if the administration is discontinued.