Rapid and focal loss of negative charge associated with mononuclear cell infiltration early in nephrotoxic serum nephritis

Glomeruli were examined early in the heterologous phase of nephrotoxic (Masugi) nephritis, induced by a single injection of rabbit antirat kidney serum (NTS), to determine whether a temporal relationship existed between loss of negative charge and proteinuria. The proteinuria associated with the heterologous phase (within 24 hours) has been shown to coincide with the binding of rabbit antibody to the glomerular basement membrane (GBM) [1–6]. Kuhn et al have described a polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) infiltrate at the earliest time period studied, 3 hours [7]. Schreiner et al [8], in a model of nephrotoxic nephritis resembling the later, or autologous phase, demonstrated a mononuclear (MN) cell infiltrate, resembling monocytes, in the glomerulus and proposed a role for cell-mediated immunity in experimental glomerulonephritis. In a preliminary communication, we have demonstrated a MN cell infiltrate, resembling lymphocytes, 0.5 hour following NTS administration [9].