Efforts to enhance survival of limb allografts by prior administration of whole blood in rats using a new survival end-point.

Injecting whole blood into the recipient before surgery can significantly prolong renal transplant survival in rats. Therefore, experiments were performed in rats to study the effects of prior administration of whole blood on the survival of limb allografts. Tests to quantitate survival of the allografts included monitoring the internal temperature of the leg, assaying serum creatine kinase levels, and testing for alloantibodies.