China successfully grafted pig organs on monkeys

One of the three Rhesus monkeys that had an organ transplant from a pig survived healthy, Chinese scientists on June 29 said.

All three organ transplants were performed by experts from the Air Force Medical University of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, by removing PERV - the characteristic virus that parasitizes pigs.

Rhesus monkey, a species that Chinese scientists have chosen to transplant pig organs. (Photo: Nation Post).

So far, the monkey has received the liver to live on the 16th, a new record in the world. Meanwhile, the two monkeys received heart and kidney, respectively, for one week and one day.

After the surgery, the pig organs are working perfectly. The liver quickly has a gallbladder and the heart begins to pound as soon as the monkey is grafted.

Lack of organ donation is the biggest difficulty that hinders the development of organ transplants in humans. Organ transplants between different species always face major obstacles, from low probability of success to medication and postoperative care.

The success of pig organ transplants in monkeys will lay the foundation for future clinical trials of xenotransplantation , the team notes.