NAD+-dependent 15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase activity in kidney tissue from NZB/NZW F1 hybrid mice.

Prostaglandins, or related compounds, as well as estrogen and androgen are believed to be involved in the processes that lead to the development of murine lupus erythematosus (LE) in NZB/NZW F1 hybrid mice. In this investigation we measured NAD+-dependent 15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase (PGDH) activity in kidney tissue of male and female NZB/NZW F1 hybrid mice and in kidney tissue of male and female mice of other strains. In each case the specific activity of PGDH was significantly greater in kidney tissue of male than in kidney tissue of female mice. However, the specific activities of PGDH in kidney tissues of males of various strains of mice were similar, and the specific activities of PGDH in kidney tissues of females of various strains-including the NZB/NZW F1 hybrid- were similar. Thus, while the lower activity of PGDH in kidney tissues of the female may be important in the pathogenesis of LE, the lower activity of this enzyme is not unique to the kidney of the female NZB/NZW F1 hybrid mouse.