Thyroid allograft after total thyroidectomy in a rat model.

The fact that in vitro culture of murine organ allografts prior to transplantation enhances graft survival is commonly accepted. In this study, we examined the possibility of thyroid allotransplantation for the therapy of total thyroidectomy in the rat model. Transplanted thyroid function was determined by 125I uptake ratio and evaluated by immunohistochemical and microautoradiographical assessments. Fully allogeneic thyroid glands cultured for 8-24 hr in Hank's balanced salt solution (HBSS) at pH 6.3 or 7.2 were transplanted to rats under the kidney capsule. Five weeks after allotransplantation, thyroid glands cultured for 16 hr in HBSS at pH 6.3 presented prolonged survival. This procedure could be used as an initial therapy not only for total thyroidectomized patients but also for patients with primary hypothyroidism.