Acute glomerular lesions induced by polyvinyl alcohol-bovine serum albumin (PVA-BSA) complex in the rat--a possible mechanism of local immune complex formation.

Two types of renal lesions, renal cortical necrosis and acute proliferative glomerular lesions were induced by a single or several intravenous injections of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)-bovine serum albumin (BSA) complex in Wistar King Aptakeman rats. All animals given a single dose died of renal cortical necrosis within 7 days. Injected PVA-BSA complex was localized in the glomerular capillary lumina in a pattern of thrombosis. All animals given daily injections of a small dose for 5 days developed acute proliferative glomerular lesions accompanied by a significant deposition of IgG, IgM and C3 in the mesangium in which the PVA-BSA complex had been localized. The subsequent deposition of immunoglobulins and complement was suggestive of a possible mechanism of local immune complex formation in the development of the present proliferative glomerular lesions.