GENE CONTROLLED DIFFERENCES OF THE GRAFT-VERSUS-HOST REACTION ACTIVITY IN THE CHICKEN

Abstract

A study has been made to determine whether the blood group gene B controls the focus formation on chorioallantoic membrane as well as splenomegaly, and if it is a case, to determine on the effect of the gene B quantitatively.
It was found that the gene B controlled the focus formation as well as splenomegaly when the host embryos possessed the antigen controlled by the gene B. In the absence of B antigen, other antigens were responsible to produce foci without changes in spleen weight. It suggested that a second gene-C blood group gene-controlled the focus formation without splenomegaly when the host embryos possessed no antigen controlled by the gene B.
In B^AB^A hosts, B^bB^b donor produced the largest focus number than did B^BB^B, B^MB^M, B^GB^G, and B^KB^K donors. Both B^BB^B and B^MB^M donors produced intermediate focus numbers. It is suggested that the differences in the competence of donor to produce focus may depend upon the differences in genotypes of the gene B in the donors.