Abstract
Male and female F2 homozygotes from crosses between MHC-congenic inbred mouse strains were tested for MHC-associated mating preference. In three instances, of the four genotypic combinations so tested, marked MHC-associated mating preference was observed. This result greatly reduces the possibility that the observed mating preferences of MHC-congenic inbred strains can be explained wholly in terms of non-MHC genetic drift, or of residual non-MHC genetic disparity, or of fortuitous acquired strain characteristics unrelated to MHC. In two of the four combinations investigated, the MHC-related mating bias of F2 segregants was similar to that of the genotypically similar inbred parent strains. In a third combination, F2 segregants did not show the mating bias exhibited by the corresponding parent strains. In a fourth combination, F2 segregants displayed an MHC-related mating bias that was evident in the corresponding parental inbred strains only when the colonies of the parent strains had been maintained in isolation from other strains. While the exhibition of mating preference by mice of the same genotypes may differ according to circumstances, as indicated, in no instance was preference reversed. Mating preference in a given combination of MHC genotypes, whenever it was observed, always favored the same MHC haplotype of the two alternative haplotypes represented. It appears that the familial MHC genotypes of mice and the environment in which the colonies are maintained influence their MHC-related mating preference, but it has yet to be decided whether these factors operate by determining exposure to particular MHC haplotypes.
Similar content being viewed by others
Abbreviations
- B6:
-
C57BL/6
- B10:
-
C57BL/10
- BALE:
-
BALB/c
- BALB.B:
-
BALB.B10
- INB:
-
inbred
- MHC:
-
major histocompatibility complex
References
Andrews, P.W. and Boyse, E.A.: Mapping of anH-2-linked gene that influences mating preference in mice.Immunogenetics 6:265–268, 1978
Ehrman, L.: Simulation of the mating advantage in mating of rareDrosophila males.Science 167:905–906, 1970
Klein, J.: List of congenic lines of mice.Transplantation 15:137–152, 1973
Mainardi, D., Marsan, M., and Pasquali, A.: Causation of sexual preferences of the house mouse. The behavior of mice reared by parents whose odour was artificially altered.Atti. Soc.It. Nat. e Mus. Civ. Milano 104:325–338, 1965
Nevo, E. and Heth, G.: Assortative mating between chromosome forms of the mole ratSpalax ehrenbergi.Experientia 32:1509–1511, 1976
Yamaguchi, M., Yamazaki, K., and Boyse, E.A.: Mating preference tests with the recombinant congenic strain BALB.HTG.Immunogenetics 6: 261–264, 1978
Yamazaki, K., Boyse, E.A., Miké, V., Thaler, H.T., Mathieson, B.J., Abbott, J., Boyse, J., Zayas, Z.A., and Thomas, L.: Control of mating preferences in mice by genes in the major histocompatibility complex.J. Exp. Med. 144:1324–1335, 1976
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
See also Figure 1
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Yamazaki, K., Yamaguchi, M., Andrews, P.W. et al. Mating preferences of F2 segregants of crosses between MHC-congenic mouse strains. Immunogenetics 6, 253–259 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01563915
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01563915