Monitoring for engraftment following rat orthotopic liver transplantation by in vitro amplification of Y-chromosome gene using polymerase chain reaction

Abstract

The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using primers specific for the rat Y-chromosome gene made it possible to distinguish a very small number of male rat cells from a large excess of female rat cells. In nonimmunosuppressed LEW recipients of ACI liver allografts, the donor cells in the bloodstream disappeared rapidly by day 3, earlier than the biochemical changes indicative of liver dysfunction. In immunosuppressed LEW recipients of ACI liver allografts, the donor cells were detected for a longer time. Moreover, in LEW recipients surviving for long period, the PCR revealed mixed-microchimerism. Our results indicated that this Y chromosomal gene-specific PCR method is useful for assessing engraftment following rat liver transplantation.