The effect of maternal responder status on the genetic control of the antibody response

Various genetic models were examined with regard to the control of the antibody response in rats. Distributions of the response to poly(Glu52Lys33Tyr15) were determined in the inbred ACI (high responder) and F344 (low responder) strains and in the F1, F2 and backcross generations. Falconer's test for the effective number of genes showed that there was a larger number of genes involved if the maternal parent were the high responder strain. Studies in mating combinations involving high and moderate responders showed that the effective number of genes influencing the antibody response was much lower than in the mating between the high and low responders. Theoretical distributions of antibody response levels were generated using Monte Carlo techniques. The Kolmogorov-Smirnov goodness-of-fit test indicated that a three-gene model best fitted the matings involving the ACI female and that a two-gene model best fitted the matings involving the F344 female. These calculations indicate that the antibody response is a complex, multifactorial trait whose expression is significantly affected by the responder status of the maternal strain.