Equine leukocyte antigen system. II. Serological and mixed lymphocyte reactivity studies in families.

Mono- and oligospecific lymphocytotoxic alloantibodies from primiparous mares were tested on cells from horse families of various breeds in the two-step microcytotoxicity assay. The results showed that the detected antigens were inherited co-dominantly and autosomally as simple Mendelian traits. The membrane antigens showed different linkage with one or more other antigens and seem to be coded by a limited number of loci (at least three) from one chromosome. In the families tested one recombinant for the serologically defined antigens was recognized. The mixed leukocyte reactions of cells from horse families compared with the serologically recognized antigens showed that the two systems are inherited with the same chromosome. A homozygote for both antigen systems was recognized in a family.