Orthotopic kidney transplantation in mice: technique using cuff for renal vein anastomosis

Abstract

Objective To compare the renal vein technique and the classical techniques in kidney transplantation. Method The classical techniques of mouse renal transplantation required clamping both vena cava and aorta simultaneously and carried out suture anastomoses of the renal artery and vein in a heterotopic position. In our laboratory, we have successfully developed mouse orthotopic kidney transplantation for the first time, using a rapid renal vein technique for vessel anastomosis, wherein the donor's renal vein was inserted through an intravenous catheter, folded back and tied. During grafting, the cuffed renal vein was directly inserted into the recipient's renal vein without the need for clamping vena cava and suturing renal vein. Result This technique allowed for the exact transplantation of the kidney into the original position, compared to the classical technique, and had significantly shortened the clamping time due to a quicker and more precise anastomosis of renal vein as described. The renal vein anastomoses time was dramatically shortened in cuffed renal vein technique (4 min) as compared with the classical technique (9 min, P<0.001). This also allowed for a quicker recovery of the lower extremity activity, reduction in myoglobinuria with resultant kidney graft survival of 88.9%. Conclusion The cuffed renal vein technique simplifies microvascular anastomoses and affords important additional benefits. Key words: Mouse; Kidney transplantation; Renal vein; Cuffed