PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Hodgson, H J
AU  - Potter, B J
AU  - Skinner, J
AU  - Jewell, D P
TI  - Immune-complex mediated colitis in rabbits. An experimental model.
AID  - 10.1136/gut.19.3.225
DP  - 1978 Mar 01
TA  - Gut
PG  - 225--232
VI  - 19
IP  - 3
4099  - http://gut.bmj.com/content/19/3/225.short
4100  - http://gut.bmj.com/content/19/3/225.full
SO  - Gut1978 Mar 01; 19
AB  - An experimental colitis in rabbits is described, following the intravenous injection of preformed immune complexes of human serum albumin (HSA) and anti-HSA into non-sensitised rabbits. Tissue damage was localised to the colon by the Auer technique of inducing local non-specific inflammation, by the rectal instillation of dilute formalin. Formalin alone gave transient changes that reverted to normal within 24 hours. In rabbits given intravenous immune complexes formed in antigen-excess, a severe colitis was initiated, with histological features including mucosal ulceration, mixed inflammatory cell infiltration in the lamina propria, and crypt abscess formation. It is possible that immune-complex damage may be one of the pathogenic mechanisms involved in human ulcerative colitis.