[Influence of Coxsackie B4 virus on uptake and transport of colloidal carbon by glomerular mesangium].

To evaluate the influence of Coxsackie B4 virus (Cox. B4 virus) on the clearing function of the mesangium, colloidal carbon and Cox. B4 virus were intravenously injected into five groups of female Swiss albino mice. Group I received carbon and no Cox. B4 virus; group II, carbon and live Cox. B4 virus; and group III, carbon and inactivated Cox. B4 virus; Group IV and V received live and inactivated Cox. B4 virus, respectively, first, followed by carbon. Semiquantitative analysis of the distribution of carbon particles within glomeruli revealed that in groups II and III disappearance of intracapillary carbon particles was delayed significantly, and that in group II mesangial transport of carbon particles in the direction of the vascular pole of the glomerulus was suppressed. In Groups IV and V, when the interval between carbon and virus injections was shorter than 24 hours, many carbon particles were observed within glomerular capillary lumina compared with Group I. The mechanism of suppressed mesangial uptake of carbon particles may be explained by change of the charge barrier of the glomerular capillary walls and the expansion of the subendothelial space observed after Cox. B4 virus injection. The suppressed mesangial transport of macromolecules appears to be intimately related to be effect of substances produced in viremia and to impairment by viral infection of the function of mononuclear cells infiltrating glomeruli. These results suggest that mesangial uptake and transport of carbon particles are suppressed in transient glomerular changes due to direct injury by the live virus. This means that the biologic property of Cox. B4 virus may be a very important determinant of the clearing function of the mesangium.