IgG-B1C CRYOGLOBULINS IN ACUTE GLOMERULONEPHRITIS

Eight children have been examined with cryoglobulinemia in association with acute post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis, representing 31% of patients admitted with that diagnosis in a 28-month period. The clinical features distinguishing these eight children include anemia (Hct <28%), a more marked elevation of the erythrocyte sedimentation rate than usually seen (>60 mm/hr) and hypergammaglobulinemia (>20%). The cryoglobulins have persisted from 2 weeks to 3 months after the onset of the renal lesion. Electrophoresis of fresh serum disclosed a distinct band with a mobility in the fast gamma region which disappeared with removal of the cryoglobulin; in these instances, the electrophoretic mobility of the isolated cryoglobulin was similar to the band seen in whole serum. All isolated cryoglobulins contained IgG and B1C globulins by immunodiffusion and immunoelectrophoresis; one of them contained trace amounts of IgA in addition and another contained small amounts of IgM. Renal biopsy in four cases confirmed acute proliferative glomerulonephritis, and granular deposition of IgG and B1C along capillary loops has been observed by fluorescence microscopy in the three cases examined. Although their significance is unknown, the presence of a cold precipitable complex of IgG and B1C globulins in the serum and the presence of these same proteins in the glomeruli of children with this disease would suggest that cryoglobulins might be of immunopathologic importance in certain cases of acute glomerulonephritis.

HISTOCHEMICAL STUDIES ON MUCOPROTEINS IN NERVE CELLS OF THE DOG

Autonomic and sensory ganglion cells in the senile dog contain a deposition of PAS-positive substances which has been shown to be mucoprotein in nature. Data are presented to show that this PAS-positive mucoprotein can be demonstrated by metachromatic staining with toluidine blue after the mucoprotein is sulfated. This procedure indicates that mucoprotein is also present in a granular form in all nerve cells in both senile and young dogs. The evidence for this is further substantiated by the use of the aldehyde-fuchsin stain following both periodic acid oxidation and sulfation. The granular and non-granular deposition can be demonstrated by the periodic acid-aldehyde-fuchsin method due to the affinity of the aldehyde-fuchsin stain for aldehydes. It can be demonstrated following the sulfation-aldehyde-fuchsin method owing to the affinity of the stain for the sulfuric group. The evidence for this latter phenomenon has been reported by Scott and Clayton (6). It is concluded that mucoprotein is present in a granular form in all nerve cells in both senile and young dogs but is not concentrated enough in the latter to be demonstrated by the PAS method.