Experimental glomerulonephritis in mice as a model for immunopharmacological studies.

The experimental glomerulonephritis was caused by the intravenous injection of a subnephrotoxic dose of nephrotoxic serum in the mice which had been previously immunized with rabbit IgG and complete Freund's adjuvant. The elevation of urinary protein excretion, serum blood urea nitrogen level and cholesterol level and the decrease of serum albumin level were demonstrated in nephritic mice. Hypercellularity in the glomerulus and hyalinosis in tubular system were observed in histopathological studies. The clinical signs in this experimental model were similar to human glomerulonephritis. In a transfer experiment, sensitized lymphocytes against rabbit IgG were necessary for the onset of disease. Clear remission of glomerulonephritis was indicated by the administration of cyclophosphamide or 6-mercaptopurine. Glucocorticoids showed moderate suppression of the development of this nephritis. These evidences suggest that this experimental model is useful for the immunopharmacological research of glomerulonephritis.