Induction of progressive glomerulonephritis in rats by eluted -globulin.

A progressive glomerulonephritis and pulmonary lesion have been produced in Wistar rats using eluted γ-globulin from the kidney of a patient with Goodpasture's syndrome. It is suggested that Bovine serum albumin induced serum sickness may contribute to the initiation of an autoimmune cycle by allowing the injected eluted γ-globulin to come in contact with some component of the glomerular basement membrane. A mechanism similar to the one found in this experimental model is suggested for the development of glomerular and pulmonary lesions in Goodpasture's syndrome.