[Establish and identification of mouse model of membranous nephropathy]

To establish mouse models of membranous nephropathy (MN), and identify the physiological and histological characteristics of the models.

BALB/c mice (6 weeks old) were randomly divided into 2 groups: an experimental group and a control group. Animals in the experimental group were immunized subcutaneously with 0.2 mg cationized bovine serum albumin (C-BSA) emulsified in an equal volume of complete Freunds adjuvant (CFA), and those in the control group were immunized with CFA and normal saline. Two weeks later, these mice in the experimental group received C-BSA via tail vein every other day, 3 times per week, and the control group received normal saline alone in the same way. The establishment of models was verified by serum, urine tests and pathological examinations (PASM staining, IgG immunofluorescence and transmission electron microscopy).

Eight weeks later, 12 animals developed hypoalbuminemia, hypercholesterolemia and severe proteinuria in the experimental group. The PASM staining showed similar as the early stage of MN in morphology. Immunofluorescence staining for the experimental group exhibited granular deposition of IgG along the capillary wall, and ultrastructurally, the basement membrance showed fusion and effacement of podocyte foot processes and the deposits under a transmission electron microscope.

We established successfully a murine model of MN induced by C-BSA.