Passive Acute Glomerulonephritis Induced by Antigen-Antibody Complexes Solubilized in Hapten Excess. ∗

Summary

Acute glomerulonephritis has been produced passively in normal mice by soluble antigen-antibody complexes prepared from rabbit anti-DNP Bγg which was precipitated at equivalence with DNPBSA and dissolved in excess hapten, ∊NH₂DNP lysine. The fate and distribution of the injected antigen-antibody complexes and of purified rabbit antibody, which was used as a control, were studied by the fluorescent antibody technic. The complexes were rapidly and efficiently phagocytosed by the cells of the reticuloendothelial system and had largely disappeared from these cells within 24 hours. In contrast, there was only slight localization of complexes within glomeruli following a single injection, but with 3 injections in 24 hours, which resulted in production of acute glomerulonephritis, marked accumulation of complexes occurred in glomeruli; this was apparent 24 hours after the last injection. Purified rabbit antibody did not localize in glomeruli and only in trace amounts in the cells of the reticuloendothelial system.