LOW-DOSE, SHORT-TERM CYCLOSPORINE-A DOES NOT PROTECT THE SCHWANN-CELLS OF ALLOGENEIC NERVE GRAFTS

The question of whether Cyclosporin A, at the low doses reported to allow survival of nerve allografts, allows the allogeneic Schwann cells to survive has been investigated. Nerve allografts were inserted by microsurgical techniques into trembler mice treated with 10 mg/kg or 15 mg/kg Cyclosporin A, daily for 12 weeks post-operatively. Electrophysiological recordings were made one week prior to surgery, and at the end of the immunosuppression period, after which the grafts were processed for electron microscopy. All grafts showed signs of rejection and donor Schwann cells had been replaced by host cells. The results suggest that Cyclosporin A in these doses is insufficient to overcome rejection problems or to induce tolerance to donor Schwann cells. © 1990.