Induction of donor-specific tolerance to cardiac xenografts in utero.

Abstract

Cardiac xenograft survival was significantly prolonged by intrauterine exposure to xenograft bone marrow cells on day 9 but not on day 16 of gestation. Cardiac xenograft survival and chromosomal analysis of the recipient bone marrow suggested that chimerism was achieved between Golden Syrian hamsters and Lewis rats. Cardiac xenotransplantation may be possible by induction of donor-specific tolerance in utero.