Immune complex deposition in adult male Sprague-Dawley rats chronically immunized with GnRH.
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.
Vargas
Louis
L
Population Council, Center for Biomedical Research, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10021, USA.
Sewell
Richard
R
Marshall
Aileen
A
Galatioto
Josephine
J
Tsong
Yun-Yen
YY
Catterall
James F
JF
Hunnicutt
Gary R
GR
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
D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex; D013092:Spermatogenesis-Blocking Agents; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone