Glomerular lesions in argyric NZB/NZW mice.

Glomerular basement membranes showed strong silver labelling on electron microscopy in NZB/NZW mice fed 12 mmol AgNO3 for 6 weeks at ages from 1-7 months. Although some silver granules were seen within mesangial immune deposits following their concurrent deposition, silver was usually deposited in electron-lucent areas around pre-existing deposits, or formed a boundary to an expanded mesangium when immune deposits subsequently developed. Immune deposits in capillary loops occurred on the outer or inner aspect of the zone of silver labelling.