#pig

#pig

Pig Kidneys Transplanted into Two PeopleMedical scientists have long thought about transplanting animal organs into people, which would go a long way toward relieving the shortage of human organs available for transplant. Now researchers at New York University have successfully transplanted pig kidneys into humans- twice. The kidneys used were from pigs who were genetically modified to more closely resemble the chemical actions of humans. Pig tissue normally produces a sugar called alpha-gal, which would spark a rejection reaction in humans, but these pigs did not secrete the sugar. These experimental procedures will not give the recipients a new lease on life, however. They were both classified as brain dead. The first kidney was transplanted in September onto a patient whose family volunteered for the experiment after the decision to turn off life support. The second surgery in November was on a functionally-dead person whose body was being supported in anticipation of being an organ donor. Before that happened, they became a recipient for a few days. The kidneys were attached to the recipients blood vessels, on the leg in the case of the second surgery, and then observed by scientists to see if they would work. They appeared to function normally, and no rejection was observed. It will probably still be a long time before clinical trials can begin using fully-alive patients who intend on keeping their transplanted organs. Read about these experimental operations at Gizmodo. -via Damn Interesting (Image credit: Tsaag Valren) #transplant #organtranplant #kidney #pig #xenotransplantation