Influence of the B Blood Group-histo-compatibility Locus in Chickens on a Graft-versus-Host Reaction

Abstract

PRODUCTION of nodular lesions on the chorioallantoic membrane of chick embryos after inoculation with adult fowl leucocytes has been described by Boyer¹. These lesions, appearing as raised yellow or white foci, are considered to arise from the interaction of donor lymphocytes with foreign antigenic determinants present in the tissues of the embryonic host. The number of foci produced depends on the number of large lymphocytes in the inoculum² although immunization of the donor with ombryonic tissue does not enhance the ability to produce foci³. Two independent experiments with inbred lines indicated that single gene differences between donor and host could account for chorioallantoic membrane foci production⁴ as well as splenomegaly⁵.