Long-term preservation of vitality of xenogenic thyrocytes in the recipient after their transplantation into the blood stream.

PURPOSE This research is aimed at studying the possibilities of the long-term preservation of thyrocytes xenogenic culture in the recipient without using immunosuppressive therapy. MATERIAL AND METHODS The research was carried out on the experimental model "rabbit-dog." Using sixteen dogs having undergone total thyroidectomy, a macroencapsulated culture of a rabbit's thyrocytes was transplanted into the lumen of their arterial blood stream. RESULTS Morphologic and laboratory research carried out six months later showed the preservation of thyrocytes vitality, the formation of organized thyroid tissue in the vessel's lumen, and the compensation of experimental primary hypothyroidism. A radioisotopic study showed an active absorption of the isotope by the transplanted thyroid tissue. CONCLUSIONS The macroencapsulation and transplantation of thyrocytes into the blood stream is the most effective method of its long-term preservation.