Donor Desmopressin Treatment Does Not Affect Transplant Outcome in the Fischer to Lewis Rat Renal Transplant Model.

OBJECTIVES:Retrospective studies suggest that donor desmopressin (DDAVP) treatment improves renal transplant outcome. The present study tests the hypothesis that desmopressin neutralizes the graft's endothelium from proinflammatory angiopoietin 2 containing Weibel-Palade bodies in the donor, resulting in reduced Weibel-Palade body release at the time of reperfusion in the recipient. MATERIALS AND METHODS:Using rat models, we examined the influence of desmopressin treatment on the expression of vasopressin 2 receptors and adhesion molecules in brain-dead donors, with renal function examined in allogeneic recipients. The influence of desmopressin on the expression of adhesion molecules also was tested in vitro. RESULTS:Vasopressin 2 receptors were restricted to collecting ducts and distal tubules and only scarcely found in the renal vasculature. Vasopressin 2 receptor expression was down-regulated in brain-dead rats by desmopressin. Renal expression of vascular cellular adhesion molecule 1 and intercellular adhesion molecule 1 were significantly reduced in these rats. In contrast, angiopoietin 2 did not influence the expression of adhesion molecules in in vitro cultured endothelial cells after tumor necrosis factor ? stimulation. Donor desmopressin treatment improved neither renal function nor histology in allogeneic renal transplant recipients. CONCLUSIONS:Our data do not support the hypothesis that the clinically observed salutary effect of desmopressin is mediated by depletion of Weibel-Palade bodies in renal allografts.