Mesangiocapillary glomerulonephritis in lambs: The ultrastructure and immunopathology of diffuse glomerulonephritis in newly born Finnish Landrace lambs

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Abstract
Renal biopsies were obtained by laparotomy from 8 newborn C3 [complement component 3] deficient Finnish Landrace lambs and were examined by light, electron and immunofluorescence microscopy. The capillaries of all glomeruli contained numerous neutrophils; peripheral capillary walls were thickened and refractile at high magnifications. Almost continuous subendothelial electron-dense deposits were seen in peripheral capillary walls. Large amounts of C3 and small amounts of Ig[immunoglobulin]M and IgA were seen in these sites. No IgG was seen in these glomeruli. Four lambs died within 96 h of birth. The remaining 4 lambs had severe clinical mesangiocapillary glomerulonephritis (MCGN) by 21 to 42 days after birth. Amounts of C3, IgM and IgA in glomeruli increased by comparison with amounts at birth. IgG was present in the deposits. The processes ultimately expressed as MCGN in these lambs were initiated before birth.