CYTOTOXIC AND AGGLUTINATING H-Y ANTIBODIES IN MULTIPAROUS FEMALE MICE

  • 1 January 1979
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 27  (6) , 406-409
Abstract
Pregnancy in inbred mice is associated with long-term acceptance of H-Y-incompatible skin grafts (in some rejector strain females) and with the formation of cytotoxic and agglutinating H-Y antibodies (in females generally). Yet there is no evident correlation between the 2 phenomena. Postpartum females of nonrejector (H-2k), intermediate rejector (H-2d) and rejector (H-2b) strains all may produce H-Y antibodies, and postpartum H-2b females bearing H-Y-incompatible male skin grafts of long-standing may or may not produce H-Y antibodies depending on the individual recipient. It remains to be seen whether the presence of H-Y antibodies, as detectable in a sperm cytotoxicity and protein A-SRBC [sheep red blood cells] agglutination tests, signifies a corresponding presence of enhancing H-Y antibodies in pregnant females, and indeed whether enhancement (with respect to H-Y antigen) may play any part in the survival of the inbred male fetus.