Effect of prostaglandin E1 in brown Norway rats with mercury-induced autoimmune disease

The effect of prostaglandin E1 on mercury-induced autoimmune disease in brown Norway rats has been investigated. Daily doses of 6 to 24 micrograms prolonged survival and significantly decreased proteinuria, deposition of immune reactants in the glomeruli, circulating anti-glomerular membrane antibody production, total serum IgE, and circulating immune complex level. A dose of 3 micrograms was also effective but to a lesser degree. These results show the efficiency of prostaglandin E1 in yet another autoimmune disease, show that the beneficial effect of prostaglandin E1 in this model is related to its immunosuppressive effects, and suggest that modification of prostaglandin-mediated suppression induced by HgCl2 might play a role in the pathogenesis of this autoimmune disease.