Macrophage clearance function and immune complex disease in New Zealand Black/White F1 hybrid mice.

Macrophage clearance function in NZB, NZW, NZB/W, Ajax and B10D2 new mice was assessed by measurement of the rate of clearance (KPVP) of intravenously-injected 125I-labelled polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP). There were significant strain and age-related variations in KPVP. In particular there was a marked fall in KPVP in NZB/W mice with increasing age. This fall was most apparent in female NZB/W and preceded the age at which renal disease usually develops in these animals. We suggest that ineffective macrophage function and production of low affinity antibody contribute to the early development of immune complex glomerulonephritis in these mice.