Immune-complex glomerulonephritis, intranuclear particles in hepatocytes, and in vivo clearance rates in sub-human primates inoculated with HBs AG-containing plasma.

Twelve subhuman primates [eight baboons (Papio anubis) and four rhesus (Macaca mulatta)] were inoculated with varying amounts of human plasma containing HB_s Ag with Dane particles. Serial blood specimens and liver, kidney, bone marrow, and lymph node biopsies were obtained from each animal over 10–12 mo. No measurable evidence of HB_s Ag production was observed in any animal after the initial clearance of antigen, although the presence of anti-HB_s in most of the animals studied might have precluded its detection. Two baboons developed progressive focal glomerulonephritis with mesangial alterations over a 4- to 10-mo period of time. Liver biopsies from these baboons and one rhesus monkey revealed the presence of 26-nm intranuclear particles in the hepatocytes at 4 mo postinoculation. The intranuclear particles were similar in morphology and in size to the cores of Dane particles. Kinetic analysis of antigen clearance implied a rapid uptake of HB_s Ag from the blood to the liver and spleen over an 8 to 24-hr period of time and an in vivo clearance rate ($\text{T}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>1</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}$) of 28.2 hr.