Transplantation of both kidneys from one donor rat

We have developed a technique for harvesting and transplanting two kidneys from one donor rat. Our method involves end-to-end anastomosis of the renal artery and the renal vein. Because of the short distance between the caudal vena cava and the right kidney, renal transplantation is not feasible on the right side of the recipient. The right donor kidney was therefore transplanted to the left side. Graft morphology was assessed on paraffin sections. We observed no differences between conventionally transplanted kidneys (n = 116) and right kidneys transplanted according to the method described (n = 40). In conclusion, our technique is simple, saves time and reduces the number of donor rats.