Genetic characterization of important mouse strains used in cancer research

Change of H-2 antigens' expression on mouse leukaemia LBN/a-2 and LBN/b-3 cells in the course of serial transplantation

The inbred mouse strains BN/a and BN/b have haplotype H-2bp characterized by H-2.33 and lacking any other private specificity known in inbred strains. Two transplantable B cell leukaemias which originated in BN/a and BN/b mice treated with anti-lymphocyte globulin were tested serologically for H-2 antigens. Tests during passages 169--181 revealed several quantitatively different reactions with sera against public specificities, some of these being due to Ia antibodies. No change in expression of the private specificities was seen. On the other hand, during the later passages (239--258) a number of qualitative differences were seen the most remarkable being the loss of H-2.33 and gain of H-2.4,31. The overall serological pattern of cells resembled that of H-2d rather than of H-2bp haplotypes and this was confirmed by absorption tests. The changes reported here may be due to alterations of repression and derepression pattern of the presumed multiple structural H-2 genes present in the genome.

The history of the A family of inbred mice and the biology of its congenital malformations

The A family of inbred mice which originated in 1921, came during its early development to have incorporated into its genome the tendency to several congenital malformations, among them cleft lip and palate. These sporadic abnormalities are of interest because they closely resemble their human counterparts in morphology and development, and because they share with them a multifactorial basis. The origins and development of the A family are traced, and the abnormalities are described and the forces affecting them detailed.