GENETIC DEFICIENCY OF 4TH COMPONENT OF COMPLEMENT (C4) IN WISTAR RATS

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  • 1 January 1977
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 33  (4) , 453-459
Abstract
A chance observation has led to the discovery of single component complement deficiency in Wistar rats. During serial total hemolytic activity (CH50) determinations on 10 male rats, 2 consistently had values 20% or less than that of the others. An additional 30 males (200-220 g) and 20 females (180-200 G) were screened for CH50 and the defect was found in 10 males but none of the females. Mixtures of sera of high and low hemolytic activity gave intermediate values between the 2 populations arguing against the presence of an inhibitor of the complement system. Single component analysis revealed the defect to reside in the 4th component of complement (C4). Highly purified human C4 completely reconstituted the hemolytic activity of the complement deficient rat serum. A linear relationship betwen C4 and CH50 titers was observed. Data from preliminary selective breeding experiments point toward an autosomal recessive mode of inheritance. Animals with intermediate values were observed indicating a gene dosage effect with which the heterozygote may be recognized.