title: Immune complex deposition in adult male Sprague-Dawley rats chronically immunized with GnRH.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was undertaken to evaluate whether the anti-GnRH antibodies and immune complexes (IC) generated by immunization with GnRH-TT cause cellular damage within the animal.
  
  
  METHODS
  Chronic immunization of rats with GnRH-TT injected i.m. was followed by tissue/organ analysis for immune complex deposition by immunofluorescence microscopy. Two groups were studied: (1) those immunized throughout the experiment until their ultimate demise, and (2) those given a chance to recover from the effects of chronic immunization before final analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  GnRH-TT was effective in stopping spermatogenesis, which resumed after withdrawal of the immunogen. Most tissues from chronically immunized animals were not significantly different than controls, however the kidneys of treated animals exhibited a higher accumulation of IC. Despite increased IC deposition, pathologic effects were not detected at the cellular level.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  GnRH-TT is an effective immunocontraceptive although the accumulation of glomerular IC represents a potential deleterious side effect.
authors.affiliation: Population Council, Center for Biomedical Research, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10021, USA.
authors.forename: Louis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Vargas
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sewell
authors.forename: Aileen
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Marshall
authors.forename: Josephine
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Galatioto
authors.forename: Yun-Yen
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Tsong
authors.forename: James F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Catterall
authors.forename: Gary R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Hunnicutt
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex / Q000276:immunology; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology; D007105:Immune Complex Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D013092:Spermatogenesis-Blocking Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex; D013092:Spermatogenesis-Blocking Agents; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone