Quantitative morphological analysis of glomerular changes of the rabbit kidney on treatment with insulin preparations of different purity.

Thirty rabbits were immunized with MC insulin and high-molecular impurities of commercial insulin preparations (a+b component) over 30, 60 and 90 days. The serum insulin antibody titer was determined in animals as the insulin binding capacity. Further, a quantitative morphological analysis of the various types of glomerular cells and of the mesangium was performed on the glomeruli as a blind study. Significant mesangial cell proliferation and an increase in mesangial matrix were found on treatment with the a+b component whereas the animals treated with MC insulin exhibited only a transient and slight mesangial activation after 30 days. There was a positive correlation between the magnitude of the insulin binding capacity and the mesangial activation. Hence, the glomerular changes which are observed after treatment with insulin which is not highly purified must be attributed to the high treatment with insulin which is not highly purified must be attributed to the high molecular weight contaminants. Heterologous pure insulin must be regarded as having virtually no immunological effect.