ANALYSIS OF THE MAJOR HISTOCOMPATIBILITY COMPLEX IN SYRIAN HAMSTERS

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Abstract
Five inbred strains of Syrian hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) were examined for the presence of disparity at a genetic region similar to the major histocompatibility complex in other species. Vigorous reciprocal alloreactions developed in several strain combinations, which results in acute skin graft rejection, strong mixed lymphocyte reactions, and potent graft vs. host reactions. Evidence was also found for an immune response gene which controls the antibody response to bovine serum albumin. Patterns of alloreactivity observed for skin graft rejection, graft vs. host reactivity, and mixed lymphocyte reactivity are compatible with the hypothesis that hamsters possess a major histocompatibility complex, but the absence of discernable disparity at a serologically defined locus makes a definitive statement premature.