Absence of Glomerulonephritis in Guinea Pigs Deficient in the Fourth Component of Complement

Abstract

Genetically determined deficiencies of the early components of the classical complement pathway (CI, C4, C2) or of the third component of complement (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 control animals (Crl:Hartlcy) (divided by sex into four age categories) were examined. Light microscopic examination revealed no differences in mesangium, glomerular cellularity, thickness of capillary loops, or presence of epithelial crescents in the kidneys of C4D guinea pigs as compared 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 glomerulonephritis.