Immunogenetic aspects of intracerebral skin transplantation in inbred rats.

This study was undertaken to evaluate the ability of intracerebral skin grafts transplanted across different genetic disparities in the major histocompatibility complex (RT1) to elicit an immune response in inbred rats, as determined by histologic examination and by the ability of the grafts to sensitize the recipients to subsequent orthotopic skin grafts. The ability of intracerebral skin allografts to sensitize rats to transplantation antigens is related to the specific genetic disparity between the graft and the host: sensitization appears to occur more consistently across an A region barrier than across a B region barrier. Histologic changes of intracerebral graft rejection are more severe in rats with two intracerebral grafts than in those with one. The degree of histologic change attributable to intracerebral allograft rejection correlates with the ability of these grafts to sensitize the recipient. In certain strains intracerebral sensitization is accomplished with two grafts but not with one, indicating an antigenic dose requirement for intracerebral sensitization.