Role of the thymus in transplantation tolerance in miniature swine. III. Surgical manipulation of the thymus interferes with stable induction of tolerance to class I-mismatched renal allografts.

Previous studies have demonstrated that long-term tolerance of class I mismatched renal allografts in miniature swine is induced by a short course of cyclosporine (CyA), and that a total thymectomy 21 days before transplantation abrogates the induction of stable tolerance. We have now examined the effects of surgical manipulation of the thymus, with or without a reduction in the thymic volume, on the induction of tolerance.