Induction of anti-nuclear antibodies by mercuric chloride in mice.

Mercuric chloride (HgCl2) was administered parenterally to outbred Swiss ICR mice of both sexes and to inbred A/J male mice. In repeated experiments both male and female ICR mice developed anti-nuclear antibodies (ANA) giving a distinctive nucleolar fluorescence pattern in response to HgCl2 treatment. Within 1 week after the start of treatment, many of the mice had serum ANA of the IgG class directed against nucleolar antigen(s). Maximum ANA induction was reached by week 4. Inbred A/J male mice were resistant to the induction of ANA by HgCl2.