Passive Heymann-like nephritis in the rabbit.

Rabbits injected with a guinea-pig anti-rabbit kidney fraction 3 antiserum developed immune complex deposition in the glomerulus which disappeared by the sixth day. The distribution of the glomerular deposits was similar to those of passive Heymann nephritis in the rat. A glomerular fixed antigen was not demonstrated in normal rabbit kidneys after perfusion with the guinea-pig anti-tubular antiserum. When tubular antigen was injected intraperitoneally in saline it could be detected in the glomeruli and after injection of the anti-tubular antiserum the deposits stained with increased intensity. Addition of a small amount of anti-GBM antiserum to the anti-tubular antiserum enhanced the size and number of glomerular deposits and increased their survival time. It is concluded that there is no pre-existing tubular antigen in the rabbit glomerulus and that the injected heterologous anti-tubular antiserum releases antigen from an extraglomerular source, probably the proximal tubules, and this released antigen becomes trapped in the glomerulus.