EXPERIMENTAL CHRONIC GLOMERULITIS

Three of 16 rabbits injected (intravenously) daily with crystalline bovine serum albumin (BSA) for periods in excess of 10 wk developed chronic glomerulonephritis. In vivo, animals with chronic proteinuria formed variable quantities of soluble complex after injection of antigen while animals without proteinuria exhibited rapid removal of the injected BSA. In vitro studies demonstrated that a major part of the antibodies produced by rabbits with chronic nephritis lacked precipitating properties. Interpretations of these observations were presented in the discussion. It is suggested that, in addition to quantity, quality of antibody plays an important role in the development of chronic serum sickness. Complexes formed with nonprecipitating antibody, which are less rapidly removed from circulation, would have a greater opportunity to deposit in glomeruli and induce inflammation.