Prolonged complement activation in mice.

Because antibody responses to the alternative complement pathway activator, cobra venom factor, are T-dependent and B mice therefore do not develop resistance to its action, it was possible to examine whether renal injury occurs under circumstances of protracted third-phase alternative pathway activation. After periods of up to three months, no evidence from measurements of blood urea or proteinuria or from examinations with light microscopy immunofluorescence or electron microscopy was obtained to indicate a directly nephrotoxic effect of this type of complement activation.