These findings demonstrate that successful uterus transplantation in a large animal model (miniature swine) is feasible using this heterotopic model, and it can be useful for the study of these transplants.

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Animal models of sciatic nerve injury are commonly used to study neuropathic pain as well as axon regeneration. Administration of post-surgical analgesics is an important consideration for animal welfare, but the actions of the analgesic must not interfere with the scientific goals of the experiment. In this study, we show that treatment with either buprenorphine or acetaminophen following a bilateral sciatic nerve crush surgery does not alter the expression in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) sensory neurons of a panel of genes associated with wound healing. These findings indicate that the post-operative use of buprenorphine or acetaminophen at doses commonly suggested by Institutional Animal Care and Use Committees does not change the intrinsic gene expression response of DRG neurons to a sciatic nerve crush injury, for many wound healing-associated genes. Therefore, administration of post-operative analgesics may not confound the results of transcriptomic studies employing this injury model.

The aim of this work was to familiarize with some experimental microsurgical animal models used in the research field of Vascularized Composite Allotransplants (VCAs). All these animal models are vascularized allotransplants from Brown Norway to Lewis rats. A total 125 procedures were done: orthotopic (n = 60) and heterotopic (n = 5) hind limb transplantation, femur transplantation (n = 5), limb and contralateral femur transplantation (n = 5), knee transplantation (n = 5), heterotopic calf transplantation (n = 5), tail transplantation (n = 5), sternum transplantation (n = 5), hemiface transplantation (n=5), scalp transplantation (n = 5), ear transplantation (n = 5), penis transplantation (n = 5), heterotopic mandible transplantation (n = 5), toe to thumb transplantation (n = 5). All animals received drug therapy (FK506, MMF and Prednisone) for 8 weeks, then treatment was ceased entirely. The average success rate of transplantation was 95,2%. This study demonstrated that these experimental models could be a reliable to study the vascularized composite allotransplants.Vascularized composite allotransplantation (VCA) has become a recent therapeutic entity in reconstructive surgery. Long term immunosuppressive therapy ensures graft survival, although, with a risk of serious side effects. Further progress in this field depends on better understanding of basic immunology of composite tissue grafts with the dynamics of rejection and possibilities to induce donor specific-tolerance. Without a vast clinical experience, a possibility for achieving those goals is intensive study in preclinical field. The classical experimental model for VCA is rat hind limb transplantation. We analyzed several microsurgical models in order to determine the most adequate one for immunological studies. We performed both orthotopic and heterotopic hind limb transplantations (we tested different techniques: entire or partial hind limb allotransplantation) and also osteomyocutaneous flaps, noting their advantages and limits. The osteomyocutaneous flap is less morbid and represents a promising experimental model in VCA studies.Introduction: Uterine transplantation in the sheep model has been described as a partial or whole orthotopic transplantation of living donor with anastomosis of small vessels. Uterus transplantation would be indicated in infertilities of uterine origin, as an alternative to surrogate pregnancy or adoption. The main complications are rejection and thrombosis.This model is based on a previous one developed in pigs. There are news of a recent case of human uterus transplant from a deceased donor, which has not yet been published. Aim: To develop a model of whole uterus transplant in sheep, applicable to the human setting, with grafts obtained from brain dead donors. Methods: Two donors and one recipient were operated on. The first graft was used for anatomical study,and the second for transplantation. After tracheal intubation and laparotomy, emptying of the stomachs of the sheep was performed by direct massage, to reduce thei...