BIOCHEMICAL AND SEROLOGICAL IDENTIFICATION OF MAJOR HISTOCOMPATIBILITY COMPLEX ANTIGENS IN OUTBRED CHICKENS

Serology and biochemistry were used to identify major histocompatibili ty complex (MHC) types in chicken lines selected for high and low anti body response to sheep red blood cells. Serological typing was perform ed by direct haemagglutination, using antisera obtained by erythrocyte alloimmunization within the lines. Four serotypes were identified, ca lled preliminarily B-114, B-119, B-121 and B-124. Subsequently, these types were characterized for their B-G and B-F products by biochemical analysis, using sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophor esis (SDS-PAGE) and one-dimensional IEF (isoelectric focusing) respect ively. The B-114, B-119 and B-121 serotypes displayed each characteris tic banding patterns for both B-G and B-F. No additional types or subt ypes were identified by biochemistry within these serotypes. The B-124 serotype however could be subtyped into three different haplotypes wi th specific banding patterns for B-G and B-F. None of the haplotypes i n the selection lines were identical for both B-G and B-F with the tes ted reference B haplotypes. Comparison of B-G alleles revealed similar , but not identical B-G patterns for B-114 and B-G(14), whereas B-124C and B-G(23), as well as B-119 and B-G(19) displayed indistinguishable patterns. For B-F, only B-121 and B-F-21 banding patterns were indist inguishable by IEF. All other B-F types differed from the reference ty pes.