Genetic control of anti-DNP response to DNP-BSA given by continuous infusion technique

Ten inbred strains of mice were administrated with dinitrophenyl-bovine serum albumin (DNP-BSA) at a dose of 30 or 300 microgram/day by continuous infusion technique. Anti-DNP plaque-forming cells (PFC) in their spleens were assayed 10 to 12 days after the beginning of the infusion. NZB, BALB/c, C3H/He and NC strains were high responders to both doses of DNP-BSA. KK, SII and TES strains were low responders at both doses. SJL/J, C57B1/6 and DDD strains were intermediate responders: the antibody response was low to the dose of 30 microgram/day, and high to the dose of 300 microgram/day. Breeding tests between high responder BALB/c and intermediate responder DDD mice indicated that the immune response was largely controlled by a gene linked to the H-2 complex. Similar studies with high responder NZB and low responder TES mice suggested an involvement of a few genes: at least one of the controlling genes may be linked to the H-2 complex.