Two-step procedure of whole orthotopic intestinal transplantation in rats: considerations of techniques and graft functional adaptation.

Intestinal transplantation may eventually become the definitive therapeutic modality for irreversible intestinal failure. To date, immunological, functional, and technical problems still hamper clinical success. In this paper, the technical aspects of a two-stage procedure for a whole orthotopic intestinal transplantation model of rats with systemic drainage are illustrated. Graft mucosal Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase and disaccharidase revealed recovery of graft function. From this study, we conclude that the present model may provide an excellent tool to further investigate the physiology and immunology of intestinal transplantation.