In situ formation of immune complexes in the choroid plexus of rats by sequential injection of a cationized antigen and unaltered antibodies.

The deposition of cationized human serum albumin (HSAED) in the choroid plexus of rats was compared to deposition in renal glomeruli. Initial deposition in the choroid plexus required a higher dose of antigen than deposition in glomeruli. The optimal dose for deposition in the choroid plexus was 50 mg/kg of HSAED. With this dose the antigen was still present in the choroid plexus at eight days after injection, whereas the glomeruli became largely negative by one day. Immune complex formation and persistence was examined in the choroid plexus by injecting rabbit antibodies to HSA at varying times after the injection of HSAED. When a limited amount of antibody was injected, it localized preferentially to glomeruli as compared to the choroid plexus. When sufficient antibodies were injected, the antigen and antibodies persisted in a comparable manner in the choroid plexus and glomeruli. By the eighth day after injection of foreign proteins, rat IgG deposited in both organs, indicating an endogenous immune response. The formed deposits were still present at 28 days, containing HSA, rabbit IgG, and rat IgG, but not rat C3. These results indicate that immune deposits readily form in the choroid plexus after injecting a cationized antigen. Differences, however, exist in the formation of immune deposit in the choroid plexus and the glomeruli.