The present paper demonstrates the efficacy of a novel immunosuppressive agent, deoxyspergualin (DSG), in rat skin transplantation despite major histocompatible antigen differences, both by itself and in combination with cyclosporin A (CyA) and prednisolone (PD). DSG significantly prolonged the median survival time (MST) of WKAH skin on F344 rats, when given at daily doses of 1.5-12 mg/kg i.p. for 10 days starting from day one after grafting. A significant increase of the MST has been observed also in the rats orally receiving CyA at daily doses of 12.5-50 mg/kg according to the same dosing protocol. DSG was as effective as CyA in prolonging the MST. In contrast, when treatment started 4 days after grafting (at the time of the rejection crisis), DSG (6 mg/kg) was able to reverse the rejection, whereas CyA (50 mg/kg) was not. When DSG (1.5 mg/kg) and CyA (6.25 or 12.5 mg/kg) were given together from day one after grafting, the combined therapy was superior to each monotherapy. Similarly, when DSG (1.5 mg/kg) and PD (10 mg/kg) were given simultaneously from the rejection crisis, the combined therapy was demonstrated to have stronger activity than any of the monotherapies. Moreover, the skin-allografted rats could be switched successfully either from CyA to DSG treatment or from DSG to CyA treatment.