Life (Sep 2024)

The Influence of Specific Pathogen-Free and Conventional Environments on the Hematological Parameters of Pigs Bred for Xenotransplantation

  • Won Kil Lee,
  • Hwi-Cheul Lee,
  • Seunghoon Lee,
  • Haesun Lee,
  • Sang Eun Kim,
  • Minguk Lee,
  • Jin-Gu No,
  • Keon Bong Oh,
  • Poongyeon Lee

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/life14091132
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 14, no. 9
p. 1132

Abstract

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Blood analysis plays a pivotal role in assessing the health of laboratory animals, including pigs. This study investigated the hematological profiles of transgenic pigs of the MGH breed for xenotransplantation, focusing on the effect of housing conditions on blood parameters. A cohort of pigs was longitudinally monitored from 6 to 18 months of age in both conventional and specific pathogen-free (SPF) environments. Red blood cells (RBCs), hemoglobin (HGB), and white blood cells (WBCs) were analyzed using standardized hematology analyzers. The results revealed that RBC and HGB levels were consistently higher in SPF-housed pigs. Notably, WBC counts were significantly lower in SPF-housed pigs, suggesting that reduced pathogen exposure under SPF conditions effectively diminished immune system activation. These findings raise a novel question as to whether distinct hematological parameters of specific and/or designated PF pigs would be advantages for the success of clinical xenotransplantation trials.

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