Effect of immunosuppressors, anticoagulants and antiphlogistic drugs on experimental Masugi glomerulonephritis: I-imuran.

The effect of Imuran on experimental Masugi glomerulonephritis was checked in rabbits. The animals were grouped in biologically most similar pairs: one of the mates was treated with Imuran (4 or 8 mg/kg daily) the other served as control. Clinical and laboratory investigations were supplemented by histological and immunofluorescent studies of renal specimens taken on the 1st, 3rd, 7th, 10th, 21st, and 35th day of observation. The course of glomerulonephritis appeared much milder in Imuran-treated animals with a morphological counterpart in the form of reduced glomerular exudation and cellular proliferation. Only a slight and inconstant decrease of deposition of rabbit gamma-globulin and fibrin was observed in treatment animals in later stages of the experiment. Without denying a slight immunosuppressive effect, the authors admit that, in doses below 8 mg/kg daily, Imuran exerts a rather antiininflammatory effect on experimental glomerulonephritis.