Gf. Wiegertjes et al., DIVERGENT SELECTION FOR ANTIBODY-PRODUCTION IN COMMON CARP (CYPRINUS-CARPIO L) USING GYNOGENESIS, Animal genetics, 25(4), 1994, pp. 251-257
A base population (n = 101) of carp, consisting of a single hybrid cro
ss, was immunized with the hapten-carrier complex DNP-KLH, to perform
a divergent selection for antibody response. Measurement of the DNP-sp
ecific antibody response at 12 and 21 days postimmunization, allowed t
he classification of a low number of individual carp as early/high (10
%) or late/low (13%) responders. Three individuals defined as early/hi
gh and three defined as late/low responding, were gynogenetically repr
oduced to obtain corresponding homozygous progenies within one generat
ion only. Upon immunization with DNP-KLH, the antibody response was fo
und to be significantly higher in the early/high responder homozygous
offspring. Although the homozygosity of the offspring apparently cause
d a (s)lower antibody response (compared with the base population), th
e differences between the high and low responder offspring do indicate
a genetic influence on the antibody response. The realized heritabili
ty (h(2)) for antibody production was estimated at 0.37 +/- 0.36. The
present study provides the basis for a divergent selection of homozygo
us inbred carp lines with a genetically controlled difference In antib
ody response. These inbred lines will allow us to investigate relation
ship(s) between immune responsiveness and resistance to infectious dis
eases in fish.