FACTORS AFFECTING THE GLOMERULAR PROTEIN LEAK AFTER POLYCLONAL ACTIVATION IN THE HGCL2-INDUCED MODEL OF ANTI-GBM DISEASE IN THE BROWN NORWAY RAT

Abstract

The administration of the polyclonal activator HgCl2 (1 mg/kg i.p.) to Brown Norway (BN) rats on days 0, 2, 4 and 7 resulted in the cyclical production of anti-glomerular basement membrane (GBM) antibodies, the first peak of which occurred at day 14 with a smaller peak at day 26. Glomerular anti-GBM antibody levels were also raised at day 14. Renal injury as measured by urinary loss of albumin and complement (C3) was also cyclical, being maximal on days 15 and 23-26. However, urinary protein excretion was significantly diminished on the days corresponding to the first peak of circulating antibody levels if peripheral monocyte counts were reduced by the repeated injection of anti-monocyte ant..