Immune type glomerulonephritis induced by HgCl2 in the Brown Norway rat

HgCl2 chronically injected in the Brown-Norway rat induced a biphasic renal disease. The first stage was characterized by anti-glomerular basement membrane antibodies. The second stage by the appearance of immune complexe type deposits in the glomerular tufts and in the small renal arteries. These immune complexes were constituted of a basement membrane component and anti-basement membrane antibodies. Other immune complexes were perhaps involved. In most of the rats, a proteinuria and a nephrotic syndrome appeared, as a consequence of this immune disease. No abnormalities were observed in Lewis rats, suggesting a role for a genetic control of this immune response.