Renoprotective effects of cotransplanted allogeneic testicular Sertoli cells in a renal acute rejection model in rats.

OBJECTIVES We sought to study the renoprotective effect of cotransplanted allogeneic testicular Sertoli cells on renal acute rejection in rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS A renal acute rejection model using kidneys from Sprague-Dawley (n=30) transplanted into Wistar rats (n=30) was constructed. The rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: (1) the cyclosporine group, which was treated with daily hypodermic injections of cyclosporine (15 mg/kg) after transplant, (2) the Sertoli cells group with cell suspension (n = 2 × 10⁶ cells) into the subcapsular space of the renal graft, and (3) the control group, which received no posttransplant intervention. Graft function was measured based on serial serum creatinine. Graft histology was examined at 10 days posttransplant, and survival duration was recorded. RESULTS Serum creatinine was significantly higher in the Sertoli cells and cyclosporine groups than in the controls. Survival duration was significantly longer in the Sertoli cells (19.50 ± 4.3 d) and cyclosporine groups (21.50 ± 5.9 d) than in the controls (14 ± 3.1 d). Allografts in the control group exhibited typical severe acute rejection, including widespread interstitial infiltration with tubulous, patchy necrosis and hemorrhage, severe glomerulitis with extensive capillary occlusion caused by endothelial swelling, and intimal arteritis in the cortex. Findings of acute rejection were less in the Sertoli cells and cyclosporine groups. CONCLUSIONS Sertoli cell implantation is an effective method for increasing survival duration in rat renal transplant, and it has potential as a new alternative to cyclosporine immunosuppression.