QUANTITATION OF ANTIBODY-SECRETING CELLS IN HIGH AND LOW ANTIBODY RESPONDER INBRED CARP (CYPRINUS-CARPIO L.) STRAINS

Four inbred carp strains were obtained by gynogenetic reproduction of gynogenetic fish previously selected as high or low responders on the basis of their primary serum antibody production to DNP-KLH. Fish of a ll four strains were immunised with this antigen, and the production o f antibody secreting cells (ASC) was examined using the ELISPOT assay. Although, in general, the numbers of ASC determined the subsequent se rum antibody response, high-versus low-responder differences were most obvious comparing numbers of ASC, and not serum antibody titres. High -responder carp strains produced 1.5 to 2-fold higher numbers of speci fic ASC, compared with low-responder carp, both after primary and afte r secondary immunisation. Between-individual variation, within the inb red strains, was strongly reduced, compared with outbred carp. (C) 199 7 Academic Press Limited.