Immunogenetic studies of the pigeon Columba livia.

Abstract

Reagents made from rabbit anti-pigeon red blood cell sera detected differences in erythrocyte antigens among individual pigeons. The differences detected by several of the reagents are inherited in a regular Mendelian manner, the positive reaction always dominant to absence of a reaction. A graded series of reactivities in pigeon red blood cells was observed in the use of rabbit Reagent A. All the cells tested were found capable of absorbing all agglutinins from this reagent. Positive cells differing in intensity of reaction all absorbed activity at the same rate, indicating that the differences between them are quantitative rather than qualitative in nature. These quantitative differences are inherited in a reasonably straightforward manner. Rabbit Reagent E was shown to be composed of several qualitatively distinct fractions. Three subtypes were detected by the use of several E sub-reagents. Six isoimmune sera were produced, two of which (RC and H) were analyzed in detail. Each serum was shown to be complex, but the different antigens detected by each were probably related. Matings of positives x negatives which had positive and negative offspring produced them in approximately equal numbers. The E subtypes and the antigens recognized by the isoimmune sera were seen to be closely related in some as yet unexplained manner. The possibilities that these relationships consisted of linkage or allelism of the causative genes are discussed. Positivity to Reagent A was found in 14-day pigeon embryos. Antigen C was detected on the cells of some newly-hatched squabs, but the antigens recognized by Reagents E and H were first detected on the cells of 7-day-old squabs. Cells of positive squabs reached maximum intensities of reaction to all the reagents in one to three weeks after hatching.