Serum IgG levels in the Storrs strain of hereditary muscular dystrophic chickens.

IgG levels in sera of Storrs hereditary muscular dystrophic chickens were investigated. IgG levels in age-matched Storrs muscular dystrophic chickens varied, depending on the geographical location where the chickens were reared. IgG levels from muscular dystrophic chickens at varying ages of development were approximately 30% less than age-matched control values. Genetic analyses of F1 hybrid, F2 progeny, and testcross progeny showed the reduced IgG levels in the Storrs strain of muscular dystrophic chickens not to be correlated with the autosomal recessive muscular dystrophic trait, the degree of muscle destruction, nor with an autosomal recessive T cell defect. The studies reported here suggest (1) that the reduced IgG levels in the Storrs strains of muscular dystrophic chickens are due to strain differences and (2) that the mode of inheritance of serum IgG levels in the Storrs strain of muscular dystrophic chickens is polygenic.