Immunosuppressive effect of nucleoside–nucleotide-free diet in rat allogeneic small intestinal transplantation☆

Abstract 

Background

We evaluated the effects of nucleosides (NS) and nucleotides (NT) on the rejection of rat allogeneic small intestinal transplants.

Methods

A 2-cm segment of jejunum from fetal Fischer rats (RT-1^lvl) was transplanted at day 19 of gestation into the abdominal wall of 7-week-old Lewis rats (RT-1^l) by a nonvascular technique. Two weeks before transplantation, recipient rats were separated into an NS–NT-free group and an NS–NT-supplemented group. At 2 days after transplantation, histologic study of the grafts was performed with hematoxylin–eosin staining and interleukin-2 (IL-2) production estimated in recipient blood using an ELISA method. The morphologic findings were graded in a blind fashion on a scale of 0 to 4, with 0 indicating an intact intestinal structure.

Results

Mean plasma IL-2 levels of the NS–NT-free group were significantly lower than those of the NS–NT-supplemented group. The mean rejection score of the NS–NT-free group was also significantly lower than that of the NS–NT-supplemented group.

Conclusions

Administration of an NS–NT-free diet reduces acute rejection in rat small intestinal transplantations.