ABSENCE OF GLOMERULONEPHRITIS IN GUINEA-PIGS DEFICIENT IN THE 4TH COMPONENT OF COMPLEMENT

Genetically determined deficiencies of the early components of the cla ssical complement pathway (C1, C4, C2) or of the third component of co mplement (C3) in both human beings and experimental animals are known to be associated with renal disease, including glomerulonephritis. The current study was performed to examine the C4-deficient (C4D) guinea pig for the presence of renal disease. Eighteen C4D animals and 17 con trol animals (Crl:Hartley) (divided by sex into four age categories) w ere examined. Light microscopic examination revealed no differences in mesangium, glomerular cellularity, thickness of capillary loops, or p resence of epithelial crescents in the kidneys of C4D guinea pigs as c ompared with control animals. Electron microscopic examination did not reveal glomerular or tubular immune complex deposits in either C4D or control animals. C4D guinea pigs apparently do not demonstrate glomer ulonephritis.