Focal mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis in the rat caused by habu snake venom. A morphologic study.

A new model of focal mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis in the rat has been produced by intravenous habu snake venom. Glomerulonephritis developed in 70% of rats surviving the first 6 hours after venom administration. The earliest ultrastructural change (10 minutes after venom) was the presence of loose platelet aggregates and free granules in the capillary lumen and mesangium. This was followed by dissolution of the matrix and endothelial damage. Between 4 and 24 hours, a characteristic focal and segmental ballooned lesion of glomerular capillaries developed. In these lesions, from 3 days onwards a segmental mesangial proliferation occurred, which persisted until sacrifice at 21 days.