Extracellular superoxide dismutase (EC-SOD) is the major isozyme of SOD in arteries, but is also abundant in lungs. In particular, mouse lungs contain large amounts of EC-SOD compared to lungs in other mammals. This suggests that EC-SOD may have an amplified function in the mouse lung. This study describes the purification and characterization of mouse EC-SOD as well as its localization in mouse lung. Mouse EC-SOD exists primarily as a homotetramer composed of a pair of dimers linked through disulfide bonds present in the heparin-binding domains of each sub-unit. In addition, mouse EC-SOD can exist in active multimeric forms. We developed and utilized a polyclonal antibody to mouse EC-SOD to immunolocalize EC-SOD in mouse lung. EC-SOD labeling is strongest in the matrix of vessels, airways, and alveolar septa. This localization suggests that EC-SOD may have important functions in pulmonary biology, perhaps in the modulation of nitric oxide-dependent responses. (C) 2000 Academic Press.