Experimental Glomerulonephritis

The primary phase of nephrotoxic serum nephritis produced by rabbit nephrotoxic serum appears to be dependent to a great extent, but not completely, upon the participation of serum complement. On the other hand, duck nephrotoxic serum produces its primary renal injury without detectable utilization of or dependence upon serum complement. The secondary phase of nephrotoxic serum nephritis appears to be largely or entirely dependent upon the host's antibody response to the heterologous gamma globulin fixed in the glomeruli. No evidence could be obtained for the existence of an autoimmune antikidney response by the host in this experimental model.