Abstract
The present study was designed to determine whether cyclosporine A inhibits Major Histocompatibility Complex Class II antigen[MHC II expression in the allograft rat heart myocardium. In this rat allograft study we also tried to elucidate whether CSA inhibits MHC II in a dose dependent way. Hearts were isolated from LBN rats weighing 200-250 grams and heterotopically transplantated into the abdomen of weight-matched ACI rats. The ACI rats were randomly assigned to one of the three experimental groups according to cyclosporine dosage: {1}control [no CSA , n=6 {2}CSA 5 mg/day , n=5 {3}CSA 10 mg/day, n=5. The transplanted hearts were harvested 5 days postoperatively and analyzed. MHC II expression was detected by indirect immunoperoxidase staining and quantified via computer image analysis system. The % positive area reading was obtained in each slide [50 areas per group and compared to other groups. Significant differences were noted between three groups [p<0.05 . We conclude that CSA inhibits MHC II in heterotopically transplanted allograft rat heart in a dose dependent way.