The Annals of Thoracic Surgery, Vol 56, 1274-1278, Copyright © 1993 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons
Growth potential of the transplanted lung in the infant primate
DD Thomas, TA Standaert, WR Anton, DR Jones, JD Godwin, G Raghu, WA Hodson and MD Allen
Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University of Washington, Seattle 98195.
Success in neonatal lung transplantation depends on the growth of the
transplanted lung. To study the effects of transplantation and denervation
on primate lung growth without rejection or immunosuppression, an
autotransplant model was chosen. Eight-week-old baboons underwent left lung
autotransplantation (n = 5) or sham operation (n = 1). At age 13 weeks and
9 months, single lung volumes were calculated by nitrogen washout and
computed tomography. Results were compared with those of 4 unoperated
weight-matched controls (2 per age group). Over the growth period, mean
total lung capacity in operated baboons increased 82% (137 to 249 mL) by
nitrogen washout and 70% (182 to 309 mL) by computed tomography compared
with 85% (128 to 237 mL) and 74% (141 to 245 mL) for the sham-operated
baboon, respectively. Transplanted left lung volume increased 91% (53 to
101 mL) by nitrogen washout and 75% (68 to 119 mL) by computed tomography
compared with 85% (54 to 100 mL) and 80% (56 to 101 mL) for the sham-
operated baboon, respectively. In the absence of rejection and
immunosuppression, normal volume growth occurs in the transplanted infant
primate lung.
