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. 2017 Jun;23(6):535-541.
doi: 10.1111/cns.12700. Epub 2017 Apr 21.

A cross-circulated bicephalic model of head transplantation

Peng-Wei Li  1 , Xin Zhao  1 , Yun-Long Zhao  1 , Bing-Jian Wang  1 , Yang Song  1 , Zi-Long Shen  1 , Hong-Jun Jiang  1 , Hai Jin  1 , Sergio Canavero  2 , Xiao-Ping Ren  1   3   4
Affiliations

A cross-circulated bicephalic model of head transplantation

Peng-Wei Li et al. CNS Neurosci Ther. 2017 Jun.

Abstract

Aims: A successful cephalosomatic anastomosis ("head transplant") requires, among others, the ability to control long-term immune rejection and avoidance of ischemic events during the head transference phase. We developed a bicephalic model of head transplantation to study these aspects.

Methods and results: The thoracic aorta and superior vena cava of a donor rat were anastomosed with the carotid artery and extracorporeal veins of a recipient rat by vascular grafts. Before thoracotomy in the donor rat, the axillary artery and vein of the donor were connected to the carotid and the extracranial vein of the third rat through a silicone tube. The silicone tube was passed through a peristaltic pump to ensure donor brain tissue blood supply. There is no ischemia reperfusion injury in donor brain tissue analyzed by electroencephalogram. Postoperative donor has pain reflex and corneal reflex.

Conclusions: Peristaltic pump application can guarantee the blood supply of donor brain tissue per unit time, while the application of temperature change device to the silicone tube can protect the brain tissue hypothermia, postoperative experimental data show that there is no brain tissue ischemia during the whole operation. The application of vascular grafting can also provide the possibility of long-term survival of the model.

Keywords: head transplantation; immune rejection; ischemia reperfusion injury; rat model.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
(A) Transplantation blood vessels; (B) preoperative rats; (C) donor and blood supply rat; (D, E) after transplantation
Figure 2
Figure 2
Donor blood's oxygen levels (preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative)
Figure 3
Figure 3
Blood supply rat preoperative ECG; the circulation was established for 2 h; the circulation was established for 4 h
Figure 4
Figure 4
Recipient rat preoperative ECG; postoperative 2 h; postoperative 4 h
Figure 5
Figure 5
The donor EEG in preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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