The effect of mercury derivatives of fluorescencein on allotransplant kidney in experiment.

Mercurascan (MSC), a mercury derivative of fluorescein, was studied as to its effect on the survival of allogeneic kidney grafts in dogs. A single perfusion of the donor's kidney with saline solution with MSC added in a ratio of 1 mg/100 ml was found to have significantly extended the graft survival time from 10.8 days (SE +/- 0.6) to 15.4 days (SE +/- 1.6). Graft survival time extension proved to be even more significant after a single dose of MSC given to the donor (0.5 mg/kg b.w.) and repeated administration of an equal MSC dose to the recipient twice weekly. Listed are detailed morphological changes in tissue specimens from the kidney, lymph nodes, spleen, and many other organs of a dog surviving for 42 days. A very moderate rejection lesion with merely tiny lymphocytic infiltrates was proved in the kidney. Lymph node structure was almost entirely obliterated with lymphoid tissue extinction. There was loss of white pulp in the spleen. The absence of morphological changes in the other organs suggested good tolerance of the preparation. More studies are called for to elucidate the complex MSC intervention in the process of rejection.