Xenografting of Pig Islets in Monkeys Does Not Result in Hyperacute Rejection.

Experiments were performed in accordance with the “Principles of Laboratory Animal Care” (NIH publication No. 85-23, revised 1985) and institutional guidelines. Four outbred cynomolgous monkeys (Macaca fascicularis; Biomedical Primate Research Centre, Rijswijk, The Netherlands) weighing 5 to 12 kg were used. Pancreata from large sows were obtained from a local slaughterhouse. Highly purified (.95%) islets were cultured 1 to 2 weeks in RPMI with 20 mmol/L HEPES and 10% porcine serum at 37°C in ambient air. These islets were grafted under the capsule of both kidneys of the monkeys, which received cyclophosphamide (day 21 40 mg/kg, day 11 10 mg/kg), cyclosporine (CyA) intramuscularly (IM) and orally, reaching at least 600 ng/mL trough levels, and prednisolone (1 mg/kg/d). Monkey anti-pig antibodies were assessed by a hemolytic complement-dependent assay.