Experimental globulin glomerulonephritis in rabbits; morphological and functional changes.

Diffuse glomerulonephritis was induced in unilaterally nephrectomized albino rabbits by giving them two massive intravenous injections of purified bovine serum gamma globulin. Morphologically, these renal lesions were similar to those of human acute and subacute glomenilonephritis. Globulin nephritis in rabbits also closely resembles experimental nephritis induced by injection of other foreign proteins. The course of this experimental disease was characterized by abrupt onset of proteinuria, hematuria, elevation of serum globulin, and reduction of albumin. Uremia developed in some animals. The manifestations of nephritis during life coincided with the development of demonstrable antibodies to the injected globulin. In view of the similarities between experimental globulin nephritis in rabbits and human nephritis, together with common features with other experimental nephritis, it is suggested that all may have a common pathogenetic mechanism. It is concluded that quantitative antibody response may be of greater importance in the pathogenesis of nephritis than antigen specificity.