Identification and quantitation of cells that process immune complexes in nephritic rats induced with bovine serum albumin.

A light microscopic autoradiography was used to determine which cell types positively disposed of the daily circulating immune complexes produced in rats with experimental immune complex glomerulonephritis. Our results indicated that polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMNs) remove large quantities of immune complexes in the livers, spleens, and lungs of these rats. Semiquantitative autoradiography indicated further that the function of mononuclear phagocyte system decreased late in the course of glomerulonephritis; whereas, in compensation, the role of PMNs appeared to increase. Our data uncovered a significant role for PMNs in the disposition of immune complexes during the induction of experimental immune complex nephritis.