Introduction

Abstract

In 1969 (when the terms heterograft and homograft were still being used to describe the xenograft and allograft, respectively), no less an authority than Sir Peter Medawar made the following prophetic remarks: “A new solution is therefore called for: the use of heterografts — that is to say, of grafts transplanted from lower animals into man. Of the use of heterografts I can say only this: that in the laboratory we are achieving greater success with grafts between species today than we achieved with grafts within 15 years ago. We shall solve the problem by using heterografts one day if we try hard enough, and maybe in less than 15 years.” [1].