Transfer of an Autoimmune Nephrosis in the Rat by Means of Lymph Node Cells

An autoimmune nephrosis produced in rats by repeated injections of kidney extract with Freund's adjuvant has been transferred by means of lymph node cells to recipient animals rendered tolerant by neonatal injection with spleen cells from prospective donors. Transfer of the disease was manifested in the recipients by the development of proteinuria, hypoalbuminemia, hypercholesterolemia,and histological changes. The latter consisted of glomerular epithelial swelling, increase in basement membrane material and the presence of protein droplets in the glomerular and tubular epithelium. Appropriate control experiments were negative. Attempts to transfer with serum were unsuccessful. The transfer described is believed to provide evidence for an immunological mechanism for kidney and adjuvant induced nephrosis in the rat.