Effects of parturition, suckling and pseudopregnancy on variables of disease activity in the B/W mouse model of systemic lupus erythematosus.
OBJECTIVE
The pituitary hormone, prolactin, accelerates systemic lupus erythematosus in NZB/NZW F1 (B/W) mice. Our study evaluated disease activity in B/W females experiencing the physiologic hyperprolactinemia of mating, pregnancy, suckling, and pseudopregnancy.


METHODS
Nonsuckling postpartum, suckling and pseudopregnant mice were compared to virgin females. Serum prolactin, anti-DNA antibodies (anti-DNA), gp70-anti-gp70 immune complexes, IgM, IgG, albuminuria, and renal function were monitored serially.


RESULTS
Females that whelped 2 litters had apparent stimulation of anti-DNA; those that suckled their young had similar premature appearance of anti-DNA as well as delayed, but marked, hypergammaglobulinemia. Pseudopregnant mice, which characteristically secrete repeated surges of prolactin, had significant acceleration of multiple variables of disease activity.


CONCLUSIONS
Pregnancy, parturition and suckling did not immediately accelerate lupus in B/W dams, and longevity was not affected in females that had borne litters. Pseudopregnancy was the most effective stimulator of variables of autoimmunity.
Department of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia.
R W
RW
McMurray
D
D
Keisler
S
S
Izui
S E
SE
Walker
D000419:Albuminuria / Q000503:physiopathology; D000818:Animals; D000833:Animals, Suckling / Q000502:physiology*; D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000032:analysis; D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex / Q000032:analysis; D015551:Autoimmunity; D001806:Blood Urea Nitrogen; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D006942:Hypergammaglobulinemia / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000032:analysis; D007668:Kidney / Q000502:physiology; D007743:Labor, Obstetric / Q000502:physiology*; D008136:Longevity; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008814:Mice, Inbred NZB; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D011247:Pregnancy; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology; D011555:Pseudopregnancy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D011388:Prolactin