Suppression of heavy and light chain allotypic expression in homozygous rabbits through embryo transfer

Abstract

Homozygous suppression of allotypic specificities on both the heavy and light chains of rabbit immunoglobulin has been achieved by two methods involving embryo transfer. In the first method, young were transplanted into does producing antibody against an allotypic specificity homozygously present in the genome of the embryo. In this case, the suppression is caused by antibody transmitted in utero. In the second method, young from a nonimmunized surrogate mother lacking their allotypic genotype are injected neonatally with the antiallotype serum. Release from homozygous suppression appears to be achieved more readily than from heterozygous suppression.