Factors affecting natural antiallotype antibody production in rabbits

Abstract

Since not all rabbits that have receivedb locus-incompatible antigens from the mother respond with natural antiallotype antibody, various factors were studied to determine their role in the expression or nonexpression of antibody production in the individual rabbit. It was found that the mother-offspring allotype relationship is important in determining the probability that a given individual will respond to maternally derived allotype differences, and that the ability to respond is under genetic control. The genetic basis appears to be polygenie with the response status of a given animal determined by a threshold of response-positive genes needed for response. A greater number of response-positive genes seems to be required if there is an antigenic relationship between the incompatibleb-locus antigen from the mother and the individual's ownb-locus antigens.