Experimental mesangial proliferative glomerulopathy

A mesangial proliferative glomerulopathy was induced in rabbits by repeated, intravenous fixed doses of heterologous (porcine) thyroglobulin. Twenty-five (75.8 per cent) of 33 rabbits showed mesangial proliferation with normal peripheral capillary basement membranes. Immunofluorescence revealed mesangial deposits of host immunoglobulins in 16 (59 per cent.) of 27 rabbits, and 6 (32 per cent.) of 19 showed similar thyroglobulin deposition. Ultrastructurally, irregular, ill defined areas of increased electron density were seen in the mesangial matrix in 14 (86 per cent.) of the 16 examined, and in eight (50 per cent.), discrete, granular intramesangial electron dense deposits were also identified. Results indicate that chronic immunisation with fixed doses of heterologous thyroglobulin is a reliable and reproducible method for inducing an experimental mesangial proliferative glomerulopathy in rabbits. This glomerulopathy is very similar morphologically to humans primary mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis, particularly when the latter is associated with IgM deposition.