Study of H-2 antigens of wild mice (Mus musculus L.)

226 wild mice originating from 16 different localities were tested serologically, using a battery of anti-H-2 sera. The results indicate the existence of a large number of hitherto unknown H-2 haplotypes. Three cogenic resistant strains (B10.W44, B10.W67, B10.W625) were prepared, their H-2 haplotypes being derived from wild mice. The H-2 haplotypes of these strains are different from the haplotypes of the existing inbred mouse strains but they share with them some public H-2 antigenic specificities. An analysis of the antisera prepared against H-2wild haplotypes allowed the detection of the private antigens, H-2.107 (B10.W44), H-2.108 (B10.W67), and H-2.109 (B10. W625). Furthermore, new public antigenic specificities, H-2.60, 61, 62, were defined. All the three H-2wild haplotypes possess the Ss-high allele. Blood cells from many wild mice as well as from the individuals of the new CR strains gave positive reactions with some antisera containing antibodies against the private specificities of H-2 haplotypes of the inbred mouse strains. However, these reactions were only the consequence of the cross-reactions of anti-H-2 inbred sera with antigenic products of wild mice. In the set of wild mice tested, a frequent occurrence of the same H-2 phenotype in individuals originating from the same locality could not be confirmed.