Morphological studies of the duct-ligated canine pancreatic allograft in the early period after transplantation.

Eighteen previously pancreatectomized dogs were transplanted with duct-ligated pancreatic allografts. Fourteen grafts were preserved for 24 hours with either continuous hypothermic perfusion or simple hypothermic storage. Four grafts were immediately transplanted. Azathioprine was given as sole immunosuppressive treatment. Three dogs died from early post-operative bleeding. The remaining 15 animals had an adequate endocrine function. After four to eight days the gross appearance was registered and the histopathological changes of the graft were studied with light and electron microscopy. The grafts were enlarged and of a firm consistency. Light microscopically the inter-lobular septa and the interstitial tissue showed an inflammatory reaction with oedema and fibroblastic proliferation. Collagen deposition was found after five days. In spite of an inflammatory reaction of the grafts, islets of normal appearance were recognized both light and electron microscopically which corresponded to an adequate endocrine function. In the 24-hour preserved glands fibrosis seemed to appear earlier and a smaller number of islets were recognized than in the immediately transplanted glands.