Bilateral vascularized femoral bone transplant - A new model of vascularized bone marrow transplantation in rats, part I

We present a new model of vascularized bone marrow transplantation-bilateral vascularized femoral bone (BVFB) isograft transplant based on abdominal aorta and inferior vena cava. A total of 7 BVFB isograft transplants were performed between Lewis (RTI1) rats. In the donor, both femoral bones were harvested based on the abdominal aorta and inferior vena cava. In the recipient, the harvested isograft transplants were transferred into the inguinal region (in 3 animals) and into the abdominal cavity (in 4 animals). The mean operation time was 3 hours and 35 minutes. The mean warm ischemic time was 35 minutes. The vascular pedicles of the transplants that were transferred into the inguinal region were thrombosed at day 7 posttransplantation. The vascular pedicles of transplants into the abdominal cavity were patent and the bones were viable during the follow-up period of 63 days posttransplant. We have confirmed the feasibility of BVFB transplantation based on abdominal aorta and inferior vena cava.