THE RELATIONSHIP OF BLOOD GROUPS TO SKIN GRAFT SURVIVAL IN CHICKENS

Abstract

A partially inbred. population of chickens was used to study skin homograft reactions between full-sibs 7 days of age. Inbreeding coefficients ranged from 0.50 to 0.55. Graft survival time was analyzed according to B, D, and E blood group system genotypes. Statistical: analysis showed that graft survival was significantly affected by the B; blood group locus. When donor and host birds were incompatible at the B system, no grafts survived for longer than 4 weeks post-grafting. The D and E blood group loci showed no relationship to histocompatibility. These results substantiate the findings of previous investigators (9, 11). Approximately 33% of the homografts were rejected during the 10-week scoring period even when donor and host were of identical blood type, indicating that genetic factors other than blood groups are involved. Possible similarities between the histocompatibility systems of chickens and mice are discussed.