Autologous immune complex nephritis and DOCA-NaCl load: a new model of hypertension

In order to explore immunological features of hypertension, we studied autologous immune complex nephritis (Heymann nephritis) combined with DOCA-NaCl treatment. This combination resulted in hypertension and increased heart weight whereas DOCA-NaCl treatment alone induced only a slight elevation of blood pressure and a moderate increase in heart weight. Nephritic rats without DOCA-NaCl load remained normotensive, their heart weights being comparable to those of controls. This new model of hypertension was neither characterized by azotemia nor by reduced renal excretory capacity. Hypertension was not renin-angiotensin-dependent. DOCA-NaCl treatment accelerated the development of proteinuria. In the hypertensive rats, systolic blood pressure to daily urinary protein excretion. Renal histopathology revealed changes resembling those of malignant nephrosclerosis. Immunohistology and electron microscopy showed a typical membranous glomerulonephritis in all immunized animals. It was concluded that immune complex disease of the Heymann nephritis type may interfere with normal hemodynamic adaptation to hypervolemic sodium load, resulting in hypertension.