Difference in B cell mitogen responsiveness between closely related strains of mice

Spleen cells from C3H/HeJ mice respond very poorly to the mitogenic action of endotoxin (LPS) in vitro whereas cells from a very closely related strain, C3H/HeN respond very well. An analysis of the genetic similarity of these two strains was performed. There is no significant MLR measurable between cells of these strains under a variety of culture conditions. They do not manifest a significant graft-vs-host response nor do they reject reciprocal skin grafts. Because of this genetic similarity, it is possible to reconstitute the LPS response of nonresponder mice by an adoptive transfer of spleen cells from C3H/HeN mice. This strain pair should therefore prove useful in analyzing the genetic and cellular basis of endotoxin reactivity.