This study was performed to investigate whether the Hageman factor (HF) system might contribute to glomerular damage in vivo. HF was purified from rabbit plasma. The proteolytic activation pattern of 80,000-dalton rabbit HF was the same as that previously reported for human HF. Anti-HF IgG, raised in a goat, was monospecific as judged by immunodiffusion analysis and inhibited HF activity in rabbit plasma. A telescoped model of nephrotoxic nephritis in the rabbit was developed using guinea pig antirabbit glomerular basement membrane IgG injected into rabbits preimmunized against guinea pig IgG. In this model protein excretion was increased by days 3 to 4 in association with glomerular influx of acute inflammatory cells. By days 5 and 6 fibrin was present within glomerular capillaries, beneath endothelial cells, in Bowman's space, and in proximal tubules. By fluorescent microscopic analysis rabbit IgG and C3 had accumulated along the glomerular capillary wall; however, no HF was detectable in glomerular capillary wall over the initial 10 days of glomerular injury. Positive fluorescence for HF was seen within Bowman's space and in tubules along with albumin and plasmin- and fibrin-related antigens. Although the circulating antigenic HF concentration did not change during the glomerular injury, the rate of turnover of 125I-HF did increase. However, when this was factored for turnover of 131I-albumin in a paired study, the relative turnover of 131I-albumin was found to be faster than that of 125I-HF. Proteolysis of 125I-HF in plasma consistent with HF activation was noted in only one of these rabbits in spite of a decrease in antigenic C3 level to 54% of baseline. The 125I-HF appearing in urine of nephritic rabbits had undergone proteolysis from the native 80,000-dalton parent molecule to form fragments of 50,000 and 30,000 daltons, compatible with HF activation. Urine from nephritic rabbits also contained procoagulant activity that was HF dependent. These results are compatible with the concept that HF passively crosses the damaged glomerular filter where it may become activated in Bowman's space or in fluid draining damaged glomeruli in this model of nephrotoxic nephritis in the rabbit.