Effects of maternal strain on ethanol responses in reciprocal F1 C57BL/6J and DBA/2J hybrid mice

Variations in maternal behavior, either occurring naturally or in response to experimental manipulations, have been shown to exert long-lasting consequences on offspring behavior and physiology. Despite previous research examining the effects of developmental manipulations on drug-related phenotypes, few studies have specifically investigated the influence of strain-based differences in maternal behavior on drug responses in mice. The current experiments used reciprocal F1 hybrids of two inbred mouse strains (i.e. DBA/2J and C57BL/6J) that differ in both ethanol (EtOH) responses and maternal behavior to assess the effects of maternal environment on EtOH-related phenotypes. Male and female DBA/2J and C57BL/6J mice and their reciprocal F1 hybrids reared by either DBA/2J or C57BL/6J dams were tested in adulthood for EtOH intake (choice, forced), EtOH-induced hypothermia, EtOH-induced activity and EtOH-induced conditioned place preference (CPP). C57BL/6J and DBA/2J mice showed differences on all EtOH responses. Consistent with previous reports that maternal strain can influence EtOH intake, F1 hybrids reared by C57BL/6J dams consumed more EtOH during forced exposure than did F1 hybrids reared by DBA/2J dams. Maternal strain also influenced EtOH-induced hypothermic responses in F1 hybrids, producing differences in hybrid mice that paralleled those of the inbred strains. In contrast, maternal strain did not influence EtOH-induced activity or CPP in hybrid mice. The current findings indicate that maternal environment may contribute to variance in EtOH-induced hypothermia and EtOH intake, although effects on EtOH intake appear to be dependent upon the type of EtOH exposure.     

Manipulation of aggressive behavior in adult DBA/2/Bg and C57BL/10/Bg male mice implanted with testosterone in silastic tubing

Adult DBA/2/Bg and C57BL/10/Bg male mice were orchidectomized and implanted subcutaneously with one of two doses of testosterone (T) in Silastic tubing. Steroid doses which resulted in significant atrophy and hypertrophy of accessory sex tissues were determined for each strain. Relative to sham-castrated vehicle-implanted controls, both hypophysiological and hyperphysiological implants caused augmentation of aggression in C57BL/10/Bg males. In DBA/2/Bg mice, the hypophysiological dose reduced and the hyperphysiological implant increased aggression scores. The results demonstrate that agonistic behavior in male mice is influenced by the titer of circulating T and emphasize the importance of genetic variance in the study of hormones and behavior.     

Sex-restricted non-Mendelian inheritance of mouse Chromosome 11 in the offspring of crosses between C57BL/6J and (C57BL/6J × DBA/2J)F1 mice

We report on the observation of sex-restricted, non-Mendelian inheritance over a region of mouse Chromosome (Chr) 11, occurring in the offspring of crosses between two commonly used Mus musculus-derived inbred strains, C57BL/6J and DBA/2J. In the surviving backcross progeny of reciprocal matings between (C57BL/6J × DBA/2J)F₁ hybrids and the C57BL/6J parental strain, we observed the preferential appearance of C57BL/6J alleles along a region of Chr 11. The deviation from Mendelian predictions was observed only in female offspring from both reciprocal backcrosses, and not in males from either cross. The sex-specificity of the observed non-Mendelian inheritance points to an explanation based on embryonic or neonatal lethality. Our data add to previously obtained evidence for a Chr 11 locus or loci with sex-specific and allele-specific effects on viability. Received: 19 December 1997 / Accepted: 10 June 1998     

Dimethylnitrosamine metabolism: II. In vitro activation of dimethylnitrosamine by hepatic and renal tissues from crosses among BALB/c, DBA and C57BL mice

Crosses among BALB/c, C57BL and DBA mice were performed to investigate the genetic mechanisms involved in metabolism of DMN by renal and hepatic tissues. Liver S-9 fractions from parental strain DBA had the greatest potential to activate DMN and liver fractions from parental strain BALB/c had the lowest. No age or sex-related differences were observed within strain. Crossing of either C57BL or DBA to BALB/c mice resulted in F1 hybrids with liver microsomal enzymes that gave results similar to the BALB/c parental strain. There were no sex or age differences within crossbred strains in the potential of liver to activate DMN. In contrast male DBA and C57BL parental mice renal S-9 fractions did not differ significantly from each other but did differ significantly from male BALB/c renal fractions and from female and immature animals of all strains. Crossing of either DBA or C57BL mice with BALB/c mice resulted in male F1 hybrids whose renal S-9 fractions did not differ significantly from males of the parental BALB/c strain. In all instances, male renal S-9 fractions had a significantly greater potential to activate DMN than female or immature animals. F1 DBA X C57BL hybrids had renal S-9 fractions that did not differ significantly from the parental strains. These data suggest that the gene(s) for low DMN metabolism of BALB/c mice are apparently dominant over the genes from both DBA and C57BL. The exact genetic or physiological mechanism needs further elucidation.     

A comparison of the activities of aryl hydrocarbon monooxygenase in liver microsomes from mice of different strains during prolonged 3,4-benzo(a)pyrene administration.

The content and activity of the components of liver microsomal aryl hydrocarbon monooxygenase system change biphasically during long-term 3,4-benzo(a)pyrene administration of C57BL/6 mice as well as to (C57BL/6 X DBA/2)F1 hybrids. The first activity peak (4--14 days) is associated with the induction of aryl hydrocarbon monooxygenase by 3,4-benzo(a)pyrene; the second peak (70--84 days) is related to noninductive mechanism. In DBA/2 mice, the second peak is absent while the slight increase in aryl hydrocarbon monooxygenase activity observed on days 14--28 indicates the aberrant inductive capacity of 3,4-benzo(a)pyrene under its prolonged administration. It is suggested that the weak sensitivity to the blastogenesis caused by 3,4-benzo(a)pyrene observed in C57BL/6 mice and in (C57BL/6 X DBA/2)F1 hybrids is due to the high level of liver aryl hydrocarbon monooxygenase activity at the time of tumor appearance.     

A comparison of the activities of aryl hydrocarbon monooxygenase in liver microsomes from mice of different strains during prolonged 3,4-benzo(a)pyrene administration

The content and activity of the components of liver microsomal aryl hydrocarbon monooxygenase system change biphasically during long-term 3,4-benzo-(a)pyrene administration to C57BL/6 mice as well as to (C57BL/6 × DBA/2)F1 hybrids. The first activity peak (4–14 days) is associated with the induction of aryl hydrocarbon monooxygenase by 3,4-benzo(a)pyrene; the second peak (70–84 days) is related to noninductive mechanism. In DBA/2 mice, the second peak is absent while the slight increase in aryl hydrocarbon monooxygenase activity observed on days 14–28 indicated the aberrant inductive capacity of 3,4-benzo(a)pyrene under its prolonged administration. It is suggested that the weak sensitivity to the blastogenesis caused by 3,4-benzo(a)pyrene observed in C57BL/6 mice and in (C57BL/6 × DBA/2)F1 hybrids is due to the high level of liver aryl hydrocarbon monooxygenase activity at the time of tumor appearance.     

Immune response to the H-X antigen on P815-X2

In a preceding report, the detection of an H-2-linked immune response to the H-X ^d antigen on the P815-X2 mastocytoma was demonstrated by the significantly increased survival of (C57BL/6 × DBA/2)F₁ (B6D2F1) male hybrids (H-X ^b ) compared with female siblings (H-X ^{b/H-X d} ) after injection with the histocompatible tumor (H-X ^d ). This interpretation was supported by the absence of this sex effect in reciprocal D2B6F1 hybrids (H-X ^d and H-X ^{d/H-X b} ). Additional findings presented in this paper support the conclusion that this sex effect is due to a true immunological response to H-X ^d : (a) Reciprocal (DBA/2 × C57BL/6 H-2 mutant)F₁ hybrids, as well as D2B6F1, failed to exhibit the sex effect: (b) the demonstration of the sex effect in (BALB/c × DBA/2)F₁ and (BALB/c-H-2 ^dm2 × DBA/2)F₁ hybrids and in (C57BL/10 × DBA/2)F₁ hybrids was consistent with the known H-X incompatibilities between the strains BALB/c and DBA/2 and C57BL/10 and DBA/2, respectively, previously demonstrated by skin grafting; and (c) the sex effect was not abrogated by castration of male B6D2F1 hybrids. Variability in the presence or absence of the sex effect was observed in various [recombinant inbred (RI) × DBA/2]F₁ hybrids and may be attributed to the influence of a regulatory non-H-2 gene which is closely linked to the gene coding for mouse kidney-androgen-regulated protein (KAP) but androgen-independent, or to variability in inheritance of the H-X ^b allele among the RI lines. It is proposed that the P815-X2 model may be utilized to type RI lines derived from a cross between C57BL/6 and DBA/2 for their H-X genotypes.Abbreviations B C57BL/6 origin allele - B6 C57BL/6 - B10 C57BL/10 - B6D2F1 (C57BL/6 × DBA/2)F₁ - B6 ^m D2F1 (C57BL/6 H-2 mutant × DBA/2)F₁ - bm10 B6.C-H-2 ^bm10 - C BALB/c - D DBA/2 origin allele - D2 DBA/2 - dm2 BALB/c-H-2 ^dm2 - H-X X chromosome-determined histocompatibility antigen of the mouse - Ir gene, immune response gene - KAP kidney androgenregulated protein - MST median survival time - RI recombinant inbred - SDP strain distribution pattern     

Genetic control of sex-chromosomal univalency in the spermatocytes of C57BL/6J and DBA/2J mice

The genetic control of sex-chromosomal univalency was examined in the primary spermatocytes of the mouse. The C57BL/6J strain expresses 3% X-Y univalency and DBA/2J expresses 37% univalency. The reciprocal F1 and the eight types of reciprocal backcross males were examined. In the C57BL/6J--DBA/2J strain pair, X--Y univalency is controlled by three genetic systems. Autosomal factors of unknown number that are dominant in DBA/2J increase the probability of univalency from 3% in C57BL/6J to 12%. The DBA/2J-Y chromosome, in place of the C57BL/6J-Y chromosome, has an additive effect to increase the probability of univalency from 12 to 37% in the DBA/2J strain. Two X-chromosome factors that differ between C57BL/6J and DBA/2J regulate the probability of univalency. The X-chromosome factors appear to be separated by sufficient distance so that, with the DBA/2J-Y chromosome and dominant DBA/2J autosomal factors, there are two recombinant classes of X--Y univalency at 20 and 60%. The genetic factors in the univalency trait may be involved in the regulation or structure of the terminal attachment sites between the X and Y chromosomes.     

Paternal inheritance of egg traits in mice: a case of genomic imprinting

Eggs from reciprocal hybrids between the C57BL/6By and BALB/cBy strains were tested for their susceptibility to attack by hyaluronidase and pronase. There were significant reciprocal differences between the F1 females in the responses of their unfertilized eggs to both enzymes. The F1 hybrids from BALB mothers showed the increased susceptibility characteristic of C57BL whilst the F1 hybrids with C57BL mothers were more resistant to both enzymes, like BALB mice. Eggs from the four kinds of reciprocal F2 hybrid females also showed patroclinous patterns of susceptibility. A patroclinous difference was found between reciprocal crosses of the CXBD and CXBE recombinant inbred strains but not in crosses between recombinant inbred strains with similar phenotypes. Cross fostering did not alter the phenotypes of the C57BL and BALB females or those of their reciprocal F1 hybrids. The findings are interpreted in terms of differential genomic imprinting of paternally inherited information. The possible general usefulness of patroclinous differences between reciprocal F1 females in revealing differences in imprinting is noted.     

Genetic influences on the timing of puberty in mice

Genetic influences on the timing of three pubertal events--vaginal opening, first vaginal cornification, and onset of cyclicity--were studied in C57BL/6J, DBA/2J, and C3H/HeJ mice and in two F1 hybrid strains (B6D2F1 and B6C3HF1). Marked genotypic differences were found. Among inbred strains, differences in the onset of vaginal opening and first vaginal cornification (C3H less than DBA less than C57) did not parallel those for the onset of cyclicity (C3H much greater than DBA = C57). Compared to parental strains, F1 hybrid strains were intermediate for times of vaginal opening and first vaginal cornification, consistent with the model in which the genetic effects on the timing of these events are additive. By contrast, onset of cyclicity occurred significantly earlier in the F1 hybrids than in their parent strains, indicating heterosis for one or more genes specifying this event. Body weights also differed among the genotypes from weaning onward, but these differences were only partially correlated with the differences in the timing of the pubertal events. Thus, genetic influences other than those affecting body weight contribute to the differential timing of pubertal events in these mouse strains. These results reveal marked genetic variation in the timing of puberty, and indicate that the set of genes specifying the timing of vaginal opening and first vaginal cornification differs from those specifying the onset of cyclicity.     

Inheritance of hydronephrosis in the inbred mouse strain DDD

The mode of inheritance of hydronephrosis was investigated by crossing inbred DDD mice having a high incidence of hydronephrosis and C57BL/6 mice having normal kidneys. In the males, incidences of hydronephrosis in F1 animals were intermediate between the two parental strains at a rate of 32.6% in (DDD x C57BL/6)F1 and 23.4% in reciprocal F1. The same tendency was observed in F2 male animals. In BCF1 males, the number of affected mice was higher in (C57BL/6 x DDD) F1 x DDD (72.4%) than in (DDD x C57BL/6)F1 x C57BL/6 (11.1%). A few affected mice were found among the females of hybrids F1, F2 and BCF1. These results suggested that hydronephrosis in the DDD strain of mice was controlled by polygenes, and that male hormones may have some effect on the occurrence of hydronephrosis.     

An X-encoded alloantigenicity between BALB/c and C57BL/6 strains of mice

To detect minor barriers to histocompatibility that might be encoded on the X chromosome in mice, we grafted reciprocal sets of (C57BL/6xBALB/c)F1, (C57BL/6xDBA/2)F1, and (BALB/cxDBA/2)F1 mice with tail skin from the respective paternal inbred strain. Our histogenic analysis suggests that, compared with the C57BL/6 mouse strain, the BALB/c strain generates X-linked antigen loss. In contrast, we detected no X-linked histogenic differences between strains C57BL/6 and DBA/2, or DBA/2 and BALB/c. To localize this X-linked barrier to histocompatibility, we produced a panel of 25 [(BALB/cxC57BL/6)F1xC57BL/6]N2 males that were grafted with C57BL/6 skin to determine which carried the BALB/c-derived component(s) necessary for graft rejection. DNA marker analysis showed one region of overlapping BALB/c-derived X-chromosomal segments among the graft rejecters, suggesting that this antigen-loss haplotype ( H-hix(c), for histoincompatibility on the X chromosome, c haplotype) may be restricted within the DXMit55 to the Xq telomere interval (which excludes only the centromeric tip of the X). Further backcrossing of H-hix(c) to C57BL/6 resulted in fewer rejecter mice than expected by the N4 generation, suggesting that a second, unlinked locus is also involved in this X-linked alloantigenicity. The vigorous rejection of male (C57BL/6xBALB)F1 and female (B6.C- H2(d)xC57BL/6)F1 skin by (BALB/cxC57BL/6)F1 males, as well as the assessment of markers on Chromosome 17 among N2 and N4 graft-recipient males, suggests that this second locus is H2, and that H-hix(b)-encoded alloantigens require both H2(b) and H2(d)-encoded presentation molecules for efficient graft rejection.     

Genetic influences on oestrous cyclicity in mice: evidence that cycle length and frequency are differentially regulated.

Studies in C57BL/6J, DBA/2J and C3H/HeJ mice and in two F1 hybrid strains (B6D2F1 and B6C3HF1) 2-5 months old revealed marked genotypic differences among inbred strains. C57 mice had three times as many regular (3-6 days) cycles as DBA and C3H mice, due largely to fewer pseudopregnant-like (7-14 day) cycles. C57 had longer regular cycles than DBA and C3H mice. Although the frequencies of regular cycles of DBA and C3H mice were similar, the cycles of C3H mice were shorter than those of DBA mice. The results indicated that the genetic determinants of the frequency of regular cycles differ from those specifying cycle length. Frequency of regular cycles of F1 hybrids was either intermediate between the parent strains (B6D2F1) or similar to the C57 strain (B6C3HF1), suggesting that regular cycle frequency shows additive genetic variation in the former crosses, but mostly dominant variance in the latter background. Regular cycles were either shorter than in both parent strains (B6D2F1) or similar to one of them (B6C3HF1), indicating heterosis and dominance for genes specifying short cycles. Although the lack of reciprocal crosses meant that maternal effects and possible genomic imprinting effects could not be assessed, these results reveal marked genetic influences on cycle length and frequency and suggest that some of the genes specifying these two traits differ.     

Genetic and epigenetic factors affecting blastomere fragmentation in two-cell stage mouse embryos

We report here that mouse embryos can exhibit a significant incidence of blastomere fragmentation at the two-cell stage. The incidence of this is influenced by both the maternal and paternal genotype. Embryos from C57BL/6 mothers exhibit a very low incidence of fragmentation at the two-cell stage in crosses involving males of C57BL/6, DBA/2, AKR/J, or SJL strains but exhibit a significantly increased incidence of fragmentation in crosses involving C3H/HeJ males. Increased fragmentation is seen in embryos from C3H/HeJ females crossed with C57BL/6 males but not with C3H/HeJ males. Embryos obtained from reciprocal (C57BL/6 x C3H/HeJ) F1 hybrid females also exhibit an increased incidence of fragmentation at the two-cell stage when the hybrid females are mated to either C57BL/6 or C3H/HeJ males. Interestingly, the results differ significantly between reciprocal F1 hybrid females, indicating a parental origin effect, possibly a result of either genomic imprinting or differences in mitochondrial origin. We conclude that the incidence of blastomere fragmentation at the two-cell stage in the mouse is under the control of more than one genetic locus. We also conclude that blastomere fragmentation is affected by both parental genotypes. These results are relevant to understanding the genetic control blastomere fragmentation, which may contribute to evolutionary processes, affect the success of procedures such as cloning, and affect the outcome of assisted reproduction techniques.     

A two-locus model for experience-conditioned direction of paw usage in the mouse is suggested by dominant and recessive constitutive paw usage behaviours.

Left-right direction of paw usage in the mouse depends on the genotype and the directional nature of the test. There are two phenotypic classes; in some strains, direction of paw usage is learned or conditioned by the direction of the initial test chamber and the experience of reaching and, in other strains, paw usage is a constitutive behaviour not affected by previous experience. We report the evidence for locus heterogeneity in the cause of constitutive versus experience-conditioned paw usage from a phenotypic analysis of F1 hybrid generations from the experience-conditioned C57BL/6J, C3H/HeHa, and SWV strains and the constitutive CDS/Lay and DBA/2J strains. The F1 hybrids between strains of different phenotypic classes provide evidence of locus heterogeneity. Constitutive paw usage in CDS/Lay is phenotypically dominant to experience-conditioned behaviour in both C57BL/6J and SWV. However, constitutive paw usage in DBA/2J is phenotypically recessive to experience-conditioned behaviour in C57BL/6J and dominant to experience-conditioned behaviour in SWV. Among the experience-conditioned strains, C57BL/6J is highly lateralized but SWV is only weakly lateralized. Our data suggest a model in which C57BL/6J may have a "strong" allele that identifies a functional difference between the constitutive paw usage of CDS/Lay and DBA/2J. DBA/2J may have a loss-of-function mutation at the same locus that is recessive to the strong C57BL/6J allele. SWV may have a "weak" allele and the (SWV x D2)F1 compound heterozygote may be below a threshold for detectability of experience-conditioned behaviour, making the constitutive behaviour of DBA/2J appear to be dominant to the experience-conditioned behaviour of SWV. CDS/Lay may have a dominant allele at a second locus that suppresses experience-conditioned behaviour in all F1 hybrids.     

Comparison of patterns of hybrid resistance to the BALB/c plasmacytomas LPC-1 and MPC-11

Summary Patterns of genetic control of hybrid resistance to the BALB/c plasmacytoma LPC-1 were studied for comparison with those to MPC-11, a plasmacytoma investigated previously. The overall patterns of hybrid resistance to the two tumors were similar, i.e., hybrids between BALB/c and BALB congenic resistant (CR) strains, A and A CR strains, SJL and DBA/2 were as susceptible to LPC-1 as BALB/c mice themselves, whereas hybrids between BALB/c and AKR, C57BL/Ks, DBA/1, C57BL/6 (B6), C57BL/10 (B10) and B10 CR strains were resistant to LPC-1 as previously shown with MPC-11. Heterozygosity within the H-2 complex alone was insufficient for resistance to either tumor. Among hybrids between BALB/c and the B10 CR strains, however, the presence of certain H-2 haplotypes influenced the degree of resistance seen and this H-2 effect was different for the two tumors. A sex effect on resistance to LPC-1, but not to MPC-11, was seen among F₁ hybrids between BALB/c and DBA/1 although not in any other F₁ hybrids. Among ((B10×BALB/c)F₁×BALB/c) and (BALB/c×(B10×BALB/c)F₁) and ((BALB/c×B10)F₁×BALB/c) and ((BALB/c×B10)F₁×BALB/c) backcross mice, however, significantly more males than females were resistant to LPC-1 and the results of this study are compatible with the idea that in F₁ hybrids between BALB/c and B10, resistance to LPC-1 is controlled by two dominant autosomal genes, one of which is sex-limited and neither of which is linked to H-2. In contrast, hybrid resistance to MPC-11 in this cross is controlled by a single gene. Cross-protection experiments indicated that the two tumors share at least one tumor-associated transplantation antigen.     

Genetic control of the content and avidity of antigen-binding B-lymphocytes in the mouse spleen]

The content (per 10 nucleated cells) and avidity curves of IgM positive B-lymphocytes forming rosettes with trinitrophenyl-sheep erythrocytes (TNP-RFC) were compared in two mouse lines (BALB/c C57BL/6), F1 hybrids (BALB /c X C57BL/6) and backcross hybrids (F1 X BALB/c, F1 X C57BL/6). Trinitrophenyl-bovine serum albumin (TNP24BSA) and dinitrophenyl-bonvine serum albumin (DNP23BSA) and sulfanil-BSA (Sulf17-BSA) in different dilutions were used as inhibitors. BALB/c spleen contained by 60% more TNP-RFC than C576/6 spleen. F1 hybrids (F1 X BALB/c) contained on the average by 35% more TNP-RFC than (F1 X C57BL/6). Inhibition curves (avidity curves) were essentially different in the two mouse lines and F1 hybrids. A conclusion was drawn that the TNP-REC content and avidity were under a strong genetic control. Together with the assumption of random expression of V-genes (idiotype genes?) in the lymphocytes the above data suggest that the simplest mechanism of the genetic control could be a definitive ratio between the corresponding groups of V-genes.     

Type II collagen-induced murine arthritis: induction of arthritis depends on antigen-presenting cell function as well as susceptibility of host to an anticollagen immune response.

Two sets of ((resistant x susceptible) F1----parent) and (parent----F1) chimeric mice were prepared. In the chimeric combinations involving BALB/c and DBA/1 mice, all (F1----F1) chimeras developed arthritis as well as potent anticollagen responses after immunization with collagen, whereas all (F1----BALB/c) and (BALB/c----F1) chimeras induced neither arthritis nor immune responses. This type of F1 T cells could be activated with APC from DBA/1 but not from BALB/c mice. Thus, the failure of the [F1 in equilibrium with BALB/c] chimeras to mount anticollagen responses was due to a defect at the APC level. Another arthritis-resistant strain, C57BL/6, exhibited adequate APC function, but reduced T cell responsiveness, representing an intermediate responder. In the chimeric combinations involving C57BL/6 and DBA/1 mice, (F1----F1) and (C57BL/6----C57BL/6) chimeras developed very high and very low incidence of arthritis, respectively. (C57BL/6----F1) chimeras developed an appreciable incidence of arthritis under conditions in which this group of chimeras generated intermediate levels of anticollagen responses. In contrast, (F1----C57BL/6) chimeras developed low incidence of disease despite induction of strong responses. Moreover, cells from collagen-immunized (F1----C57BL/6) chimeras, when transferred into T cell-depleted B cell mice of F1 or C57BL/6 strain, produced comparable immune responses in both groups but induced much more severe arthritis in F1 than in C57BL/6 recipients. These results indicate that: i) two types of arthritis-resistant strains can be identified, each of which has anticollagen APC defect as a low responder and reduced T cell responsiveness as an intermediate responder and ii) a discrepancy between the degree of anticollagen responses and clinical arthritis is attributed to the differential susceptibility to anticollagen immune responses.     

H-41, a new minor histocompatibility locus. I. Histogenetic analysis

The B10.STA12 mouse congenic line inherited from the wild mouse parent not only the H-2w13 haplotype but also an allele at a minor H locus, which we designate H-41. This allele (H-41a) differentiates the B10.STA12 line from B10.STA10 and B10.LIB55, which carry identical H-2w13 haplotypes but a different H-41 allele (the H-41b, also present in the background strain C57BL/10Sn). The B10.STA12 and B10.STA10 lines reject each other's skin grafts and generate cytolytic T lymphocytes (CTL) after in vivo immunization and in vitro restimulation with cells of the partner strain. The B10.STA12 anti-B10.STA10 CTL react with B10.STA10, B10.LIB55, and B10.STA39 target cells and with cells of F1 hybrids between the responder strain B10.STA12 and strains C57BL/6, C57BL/10, C57L, BALB/c, A, AKR, WB, DBA/1, and DBA/2 but fail to react with (C3H x B10.STA12) F1 and (CBA x B10.STA12) F1 cells. The B10.STA10 anti-B10.STA12 CTL react with B10.STA12, B10.P, and C3H.NB cells but fail to react to (B6 x B10.STA10) F1 target cells. The CTL reactivity in both combinations is Dp restricted. The B10.STA10 anti-B10.STA12 CTL exhibit, in addition, a cross-reactivity with B10.SAA48 cells that may be directed at one of the alloantigens controlled by the H-2 haplotype of this strain.     

Genotype and retention of the ejaculatory reflex in castrated male mice

Genotype proves to be an important factor affecting the retention of sexual responsiveness following castration. Male F₁ hybrids between C57BL/6 females and DBA/2 males (B6D2F₁) show very prolonged retention. Experiment 1 used a diallelic design using C57BL/6, DBA/2 and BALB/c strains and showed that heterosis per se is not an adequate explanation of the superior retention of the B6D2F₁ genotype. Experiment 2 showed that neonatal injections of 100 μg TP to B6D2F₁ male mice did not result in better retention of the ejaculatory reflex after castration in adulthood. B6D2F₁ males from both experiments who exhibited the ejaculatory reflex for many months after castration went through a ‘difficult period’ in the first 10 to 12 postcastration weeks. During this time, ejaculation latency increased fourfold, and then returned to the original level. On the other hand, the proportion of males reaching the ejaculatory threshold during this period first declined then increased.