Abstract
Using fluorescent antibody technique, the distribution and amount of duck- and rabbit-gamma globulin in glomeruli of rabbits after injection of duck anti-rabbit kidney serum (NTS) were examined for periods up to 210 days. In all experiments, nephrotoxic serum nephritis was induced by a single intravenous injection of 2.5 ml/Kg body weight of NTS. The animals were killed on 20th minute to 210th day following injection of NTS. Duck- and rabbit-gamma globulin in glomeruli were identified by staining following injection of NTS. Duck- and rabbit-gamma globulin in glomeruli were identified by staining sections of frozen renal tissues with fluorescein-labeled antibodies to duck- and rabbit-gamma globulin. Duck-gamma globulin was found to localize selectively in the glomerular basement membrane (BM) within 20 minutes following injection and there was no remarkable loss of its intensity until the end of four weeks, subsequently the amount of duck gamma globuoin in glomeruli decreased very slowlh and at the end of the experiment it was barely perceptible as a specific fluorescence in glomeruli. In contrast, rabbit-gamma globulin appeared in the glomerular BM 6 days after injection and its localization in the glomerular BM corresponded closely to that of duck-gamma globulin. Its intensity became maximum at 8 or 10 days and persisted for 210 days until the end of the experiment. In certain animals whicy had subacute nephritis, rabbit-gamma globulin was found in the part of crescent formation as well as in the capillary loop. No duck-gamma globuoin was recognized in the extracapillary parts of crescent formation. The significance of autollgous (rabbit) and heterologous (duck) gamma globulin localizing in glomeruli was discussed in relation to the pathogenesis and progression of nephrotoxic serum nephritis.
