Survival of cells after intra-articular transplantation of fresh allografts of the patellar and anterior cruciate ligaments. DNA-probe analysis in a goat model.

The fate of donor cells in fresh allografts of the patellar and anterior cruciate ligaments was assessed after transplantation of the allografts as substitutes for the anterior cruciate ligament in goats. DNA-probe analysis was used to distinguish between the DNA of individual goats. Donor DNA was completely replaced by recipient DNA in both the transplanted patellar and anterior cruciate ligaments within a four-week period. Simultaneous full-thickness skin transplants in the same animals were not rejected during the interval of rapid loss of donor DNA from the allografts. The absence of rejection of the skin grafts at the one-week interval suggests that no pre-existing antibody associated with an immune reaction was responsible for the rapid loss of DNA in the allografts.