It is generally assumed that antibodies to double stranded DNA (anti-DNA) play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of SLE nephritis. Recently, we reported that anti-DNA antibodies can bind to heparan sulphate proteoglycan (HSPG), a constituent of the glomerular basement membrane (GBM), via histones and DNA. We postulated that these histone/DNA/anti-DNA complexes can bind via their histone part to the glomerulus in vivo. To test this hypothesis we performed in vitro binding studies with isolated GBM loops and renal perfusion studies in the rat using histones, DNA and an anti-DNA monoclonal antibody (mAb) with high avidity for dsDNA. A strong granular binding of anti-DNA mAb to isolated GBM loops occurred via histones and DNA and a moderate granular binding was found via DNA alone. Anti-DNA mAb alone did not bind to the GBM loops. After perfusion of histones, DNA and immediately thereafter anti-DNA, we found with immunoelectron microscopy (IEM) a strong binding to endothelial cells in the glomerulus and to a lesser extent in the GBM. When the anti-DNA mAb was injected i.v. one hour after perfusion of histones and DNA, we observed a strong fine granular binding to the capillary wall by immunofluorescence (IF) in a membranous pattern along with some minor mesangial deposits. After perfusion of DNA alone followed by anti-DNA mAb, binding in the glomerulus was less than with histones and DNA, and was more restricted to the mesangium. No direct binding to the glomerulus was observed after perfusion with anti-DNA mAb alone, histones and anti-DNA mAb, or histones, DNA and a control mAb.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)