Title: Effects of FK506 on the apoptosis in acute cardiac allograft rejection in rats
Abstract: Objective To investigate the effects of FK506 on apoptosis during acute rejection of cardiac allograft in rats. Methods Forty-eight Wistar rats underwent heterotopic heart transplantation in the cervical portion from disparate SD rats. The cardiac grafts were harvested at 3,5 or 7 days after transplantation. The cardiac allograft sections were subjected to the HE staining and in situ terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate nick end labeling (TUNEL) for histopathological rejection grade and apoptotic index (AI). Results Apoptosis mainly occurred in cardiac myocytes throughout allograft rejection. FK506 could markedly reduce myocyte apoptosis and abate the damage to the graft tissue. The AI at 3、5 or 7 days post-transplantation were 3.73±2.32,8.30±2.97,10.22±5.52, in control group and 1.27±1.20,2.89±2.18, 3.11±1.68 in FK506 group respectively with the difference between them being significant.Conclusions Apoptosis is an important mechanism of cell death in acute cardiac allograft rejection in rats. FK506 can apparently inhibit the apoptosis of cardiac myocytes, which may be an important way of its immunosuppressive actions.
Publication Year: 2000
Publication Date: 2000-01-01
Language: en
Type: article
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