HYPERPROLACTINEMIA IN MALE NZB NZW (B/W) F1-MICE - ACCELERATED AUTOIMMUNE-DISEASE WITH NORMAL CIRCULATING TESTOSTERONE/

It has been proposed that the immunostimulatory hormone, prolactin, is associated with flares of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). In auto immune female NZB/NZW F-1 (B/W) mice with accelerated lupus-like disea se, hyperprolactinemia accelerated autoimmunity. The current study exp lored effects of moderate and severe hyperprolactinemia in male B/W mi ce, which have late-onset SLE. Autoimmune disease in B/W males was ass essed by measurement of anti-DNA antibodies (anti-DNA), gp70-anti-gp70 immune complexes (gp70IC), IgM, IgG, and renal function. Serum testos terone concentrations were assayed serially. All mice were necropsied when moribund. Hyperprolactinemic B/W males were characterized by prem ature appearance of anti-DNA and gp70IC and elevation of IgM and IgG. Hyperprolactinemia accelerated mortality with vasculitis and renal dis ease compared to control mice. Serum testosterone concentrations were not suppressed. In male B/W mice, chronic hyperprolactinemia stimulate d autoimmune disease activity; the deleterious effects of prolactin we re not mediated through suppression of the immunoprotective hormone, t estosterone. This observation supports the proposed association betwee n elevated prolactin levels and exacerbations of SLE. (C) 1994 Academi c Press, Inc.