4. History of Xenotransplantation
1682 – Bone from a dog was used in Russia
in an attempt to repair his injured skull. This
attempt was reported successful.
Late 1800’s – Frog Skins were often used as a
way of healing burns or skin ulcers by
grafting said skin directly onto the patient’s
skin.
1905 – French Surgeon grafts kidney tissues
from a rabbit into a child, the child died two
weeks later
1920 – Doctor Serge transplanted tissues
from the testicles of monkeys into older men,
claiming that the procedure brought sexual
rejuvenation.
5. History of Xenotransplantation
1963-4 – 12 patients received Chimpanzee
kidneys , however, most failed within two
months of the surgery, though one did live
for nine months, the longest time for a
xenotransplantation patient to live up to
this date.
1964 – A 68-year-old man dies two hours
after receiving a Chimpanzee heart.
1969-1974 – Chimpanzee livers were
transplanted into three children. They only
survived between one to fourteen days.
1977 – A 25-year-old woman receives a
baboon heart but dies only six hours after
surgery.
6. History of Xenotransplantation
1984 – Baby Faye receives a baboon heart and
dies 20 days later.
1992 __ A pig liver was placed besides the
patients own liver in hopes that the extra liver
would assist the patient’s liver long enough for
a human donor to be found. The patient died
after 32 hours.
1993 – Baboon marrow and kidney transplant,
patient dies after 26 days.
1995 – Immune cells from a Baboon used for
an AIDS patient. Condition improved though
cells died quickly.
1997 – Pig fetal nerve cells used in patients
with Parkinson’s disease. Pig cells survived in
one patient for over 7 months
7. Statistics
Only 5% of the organs needed
are available
1990 United States – 21,914
people in need of transplants,
12,580 received them
1990-1999 United States – 59%
increase in rate of organ donors
2001 United States – 80,374
people in need of transplants
2001 United States – 6,124
people died waiting for
transplants
8. Statistics
1996-2000 Canada – Waiting
list grows by 62%
1996-2000 Canada – Number
of transplants increases by
22%
1999 Canada – 170
(approximately 40% of those
on the waiting list) people die
waiting for transplants
2001 Canada – Almost 4,000
people waiting for transplants,
a 15.6% increase in 3 years
9. Statistics
The Need for Organ Donors
grows at 15% per year
2004 Australia – In a survey
two-thirds say they would use
an animal organ to save their
life
2004 Australia – Survey shows
7 out of 10 males would agree
to xenotransplantation
2004 Australia – Survey shows
6 out of 10 woman would
agree to xenotransplantation
10. Biological Concepts
Transplanted animal
cells to be used for
hemophillia, diabetes,
Alzheimer’s, and
Parkinson’s disease
Organ Transplants
A Way of delivering
genes of therapeutic
importance
Modern Uses
11. Biological Concepts
Pigs have larger organs
Pigs are already
slaughtered every day for
meat
Primates have smaller
organs
Primates share most of
our genetic make up
Primates are not available
in mass
Primates vs. Pigs
12. Biological Concepts
25 known diseases
can be contacted
from pig to human
Rejection rate is
higher
Public Health risks
Perfection of Cloning
Existing Problems and Worries
15. Ethical Issues
Jewish – Forbidden to
eat any part of a pig
Heart is the seat of
the soul
No hybridization of
man with any other
species
But can use for non-
curable diseases.
Religion - Jewish
16. Buddhism has no rules either for or against blood, bone marrow and
organ donation.
An important part of Buddhism is the wish to relieve suffering.
Religion - Buddhism
17. Religion – Christians
• Use of animals for human benefit is acceptable.
• Christians are encouraged to help others in
need.
• Many believe that organ donation is a genuine
Christian act of love and a way of following
Jesus’ example.
18. Religion – Hinduism
No religious law prevents Hindus from
accepting organs or tissue from animals
except cow.
Hindus believe in life after death and this
is an ongoing process of rebirth.
Hindu faiths still allow the individual to
make a choice.
19. Religion – Islam
• Based on Muslim law (Shariah), the Muslim
Law Council of Great Britain supports
xenotransplantation as a means of relieving
pain or saving life.
• But this process should only be done from a
Halal animals… One cant use organs from the
animals forbidden in Islam (i.e. Haram)
21. Where are we headed?
Although to date there still hasn’t been any long term
success with xenotransplantation scientists are optimistic
that humans will no longer have any shortage of organs,
tissues, or cells for transplantation.
Scientists are continually conducting experiments to find
new ways to solve any existing problems and to help
prevent any new problems.
These range from developing new medications for rejection
to breeding genetically engineered pigs for the specific use
of xenotransplantation.
Although there have been some ethical issues raised, there
doesn’t seem to be any obstacles in the way of these
remarkable experiments.
22. Informed consent for xenotransplantation
In the ethical discussion on xenotransplantation, the
subject of informed consent also deserves special
attention. Given the animal source of the organs
which will be transplanted, this issues concerns only
the recipient and, secondly, his relatives.
At the outset the recipient should be given every
information regarding his pathology, the
xenotransplant operation and subsequent therapy,
and the probability of success and the risks of
rejection.
