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Cellular events associated with peripherally induced rejection of mature neural xenografts placed into neonatal rat brains
Author(s) -
Backes M. G.,
Lund Raymond D.,
Lagenaur C. F.,
Kunz H. W.,
Gill T. J.
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
journal of comparative neurology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.855
H-Index - 209
eISSN - 1096-9861
pISSN - 0021-9967
DOI - 10.1002/cne.902950307
Subject(s) - biology , transplantation , central nervous system , immune system , major histocompatibility complex , embryonic stem cell , neuroscience , immunology , antigen , pathology , medicine , genetics , gene
Various circumstances have brought about a dispute concerning the immunologically privileged status of the central nervous system (CNS). Using a transplantation paradigm, we have examined the cellular events associated with an experimentally induced focal assault on the CNS by the immune system. Chunks of embryonic mouse cortex were transplanted into neonatal rat brains and allowed to survive for 4 weeks. The adult rats then received a skin graft of donor origin to induce rejection of the transplanted tissue. Animals were sacrificed at various time points and examined histologically and immunocytochemically. Under these circumstances, the transplant is rejected via a first‐set rejection response, and astrocytes of donor origin appear to be the primary target of the host immune system. Expression of class I and class II major histocompatibility antigens is noted to correlate with lymphocytic invasion of the transplant.