To improve the method of autologous kidney transplantation model construction in Beagle dogs and to summarize the experience of successful establishment of the model.

Eighteen adult Beagle dogs were randomly divided into sham operation group and model group, with 9 dogs in each group. The left kidney was preserved and the right kidney was removed in the sham operation group. The model group received autologous heterotopic left kidney transplantation and the right kidney was removed. The experimental operators were all from the same group of physicians. The serum creatinine and urea nitrogen were detected at 8 am on day first, second, third, fifth, seventh, tenth, 13th, 16th, 19th, 22th, 25th and 28th postoperatively. Two independent samples t-test were used to compare serum creatinine and urea nitrogen of Beagle dogs sham operation group and model group within 28 days after operation. P<0.05 was considered statistically significant.

One experimental dog in model group was dead due to the serum creatinine continued to rise without any improvement. Euthanasia was performed on the 7th day after kidney transplantation. Anatomy revealed renal artery thrombosis and necrosis of the transplanted kidney. The serum creatinine and urea nitrogen of the other 8 dogs in the model group increased briefly on the second day after surgery, and then gradually decreased and remained stable. The serum creatinine and urea nitrogen of the other 8 dogs in the model group were higher than those in the sham operation group on the first, second, third, fifth, seventh, tenth, 13th, 16th and 19th days after kidney transplantation, and the differences were statistically significant (t=-4.544, -5.083, -5.171, -4.946, -5.460, -5.345, -3.757, -3.918 and -3.435; t=-4.810, -8.119, -10.379, -12.789, -15.210, -9.983, -5.014, -4.599 and -2.657, all P<0.05). Model group was euthanized after 28 days of observation. Anatomical results showed that the size of the transplanted kidney was about 7 cm×4 cm×2 cm, the texture was moderate, there was intestinal encapsulation around the kidney, there was no thrombosis in the renal artery and internal iliac artery, and the renal vein and external iliac vein returned normally. The blood flow of the reconstructed vessels was good, and no stenosis was observed at the ureter and bladder anastomosis. In the sham operation group, no abnormalities were observed after anatomy, the remaining left kidney showed normal anatomical shape, and the morphological structure and position relationship between renal artery, renal vein and ureter showed normal physiological state. HE staining of transplanted kidney tissue of experimental dogs in model group showed slight changes in renal tissue structure, uniform distribution of glomeruli and no abnormal changes in Baumann′s bursa. The epithelial cells of renal tubules were square or columnar, with abundant cytoplasm, intact lumen structure and no obvious injury. Neutrophils and plasma cells were observed in the renal pelvis of 3 dogs in model group.

The perioperative management method of autologous kidney transplantation in Beagle dogs was successfully explored through the experiment, which could make the animal model simple, stable and repeatable.