Induction of an autologous immune complex glomerulonephritis in the rat by intravenous injection of heterologous anti-rat kidney tubular antibody. III. Long-term effects.

The long-term effects of a single intravenous injection of anti-rat kidney fraction 3 antibody were studied in rats. At the end of the experiment at one year the kidneys had deposition of immune complexes in the glomeruli staining for autologous IgG and C-3. The number and size of the deposits did not appear to increase during the experiment although proteinuria eventually developed in most test animals. Control rats injected with normal rabbit serum had no immune complexes in their kidneys.