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The effect of the new immunosuppressant cyclosporine on survival after total small intestinal allotransplantation (TSIA) was studied in a canine model. Successful TSIA was performed in 34 dogs. Eleven dogs were treated with cyclosporine, 25 mg/kg/day i.m., starting the day before the operation and continuing for four weeks. Thereafter the same dose was given orally. Thirteen dogs were given oral cyclosporine only, 25 mg/kg/day from the day after transplantation. Ten dogs served as controls. The dogs treated with intramuscular and oral cyclosporine survived a mean of 103.8 +/- 39.4 days (mean +/- S.E.M.). The longest survivor died after 432 days. Survival in this group was significantly longer than that of the control dogs, which survived 12.5 +/- 4.6 days. The orally treated dogs survived 30.4 +/- 7.6 days. All control dogs, and seven of the orally treated dogs, but only two of the intramuscularly treated dogs, died of acute rejection. It is concluded that cyclosporine is effective in prolonging survival after TSIA in the dog and reduces the incidence of acute rejection.

• Different species appear to tolerate different amounts of renal ischemia. It is suggested that all kidneys are equally susceptible to ischemic damage, but that the whole animal response varies between species. Mice, rats, rabbits, and pigs were subjected to bilateral nephrectomy. Large animals had relatively smaller kidneys and survived longer than smaller animals. Therefore, the larger the animal, the more time available for recovery of a kidney damaged by ischemia. This adequately explains the apparent species differences in susceptibility to renal ischemia, which are only seen when the kidney is expected to support life immediately. Simple relationships are described, relating metabolic rate, body size, and survival time with no renal function. ( Arch Surg 111:582-584, 1976)

The renal blood supply of 144 rats was occluded for specific periods of time between 120 and 270 minutes. In half the animals the renal capsule was removed. Function was assessed by the ability of the damaged kidney to maintain life after removal of the opposite organ three weeks later. Removal of the renal capsule was found to reduce life-span by two months, which was significant at the 5% level. It is recommended that capsulotomy should be abandoned in human renal transplantation until evidence is obtained of its benefit.