Allogeneic head and body reconstruction: mouse model

Abstract

Aims: There is still no effective way to save a surviving healthy mind when there is critical organ failure in the body. The next frontier in CTA is allo-head and body reconstruction (AHBR), and just as animal models were key in the development of CTA, they will be crucial in establishing the procedures of AHBR for clinical translation.

Methods and results: Our approach, pioneered in mice, involves retaining the donor brain stem and transplanting the recipient head. Our preliminary data in mice support that this allows for retention of breathing and circulatory function. Critical aspects of the current protocol include avoiding cerebral ischemia through cross-circulation (donor to recipient) and retaining the donor brain stem. Successful clinical translation of AHBR will become a milestone of medical history and potentially could save millions of people.

Conclusions: This experimental study has confirmed a method to avoid cerebral ischemia during the surgery and solved an important part of the problem of how to accomplish long-term survival after transplantation and preservation of the donor brain stem.

Keywords: Body reconstruction; Composite tissues allo-transplantation; Head transplantation.

Figure 1

Schematic representation of the AHBR mouse model. (A) Two mice with different coat colors were selected. All tissues were separated including carotid artery, jugular vein, spinal cord, and so on. (B) To ensure transplanted brain tissue undergoes continuous blood circulation to avoid cerebral ischemia and hypoxia, crosscirculation is established by the silicone tubes.

Figure 2

Location of the cutting plane in donor mice. (A) Drill 3 mm distal to the anterior lambdoid suture, (B) superolateral aspect of the brain showing the cutting plane, (C) sagittal section, and (D) inferior aspect of the brain showing the cutting plane and vasculature. The cutting plane passes from the caudal edge of the parietal–temporal lobes, along the rostral aspect of the midbrain, and through the PcomA. This preserves blood flow to the regions of the donor's brain that are retained. ACA, anterior cerebral artery; AChA, anterior choroidal artery; PcomA, posterior communicating artery; IC, internal carotid; MCA, middle cerebral artery; PCA, posterior cerebral artery; SCA, superior cerebellar artery; BA, basilar artery; and VA, vertebral artery.

Figure 3

AHBR mouse model (electroencephalographic and electrocardiography recording). (A) The record of ECG and EEG preoperation and (B) postoperation.

Figure 4

Three pairs of mice before and after surgery. (A and B) Black, white, and brown mice; (C–E) mice after transplantation (black head with white body, white head with black body, and brown head with black body).