title: Preferential survival of mice expressing the Qa-2 antigen.
abstract: The Ped gene, a gene that influences the rate of embryonic cleavage division, birth weight, litter size and weaning weight, is at least partially encoded by gene(s) that specify the Qa-2 antigen. Two congenic strains of mice, B6.K1 (Qa-2 negative) and B6.K2 (Qa-2 positive), which differ only at the Q region of the mouse major histocompatibility complex (MHC), were tested for the effect of the presence or absence of Qa-2 antigen on litter size, duration of gestation and embryo survival. It was confirmed that B6.K1 (Qa-2 negative) mice have smaller litters than do B6.K2 (Qa-2 positive) mice. In addition, the duration of gestation for the B6.K1 mice was found to be longer than the duration of gestation for the B6.K2 mice. Finally, a comparison of the relative survival of Qa-2-positive and Qa-2-negative mice in a single uterine environment showed the preferential survival of mice expressing the Qa-2 antigen. Thus, the presence of Qa-2 antigen appears to be advantageous for reproductive success.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115.
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Warner
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Panda
authors.forename: C D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Almquist
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D005328:Fetal Viability / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000502:physiology; D006183:H-2 Antigens / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*; D008098:Litter Size / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D011247:Pregnancy
chemical_list: D006183:H-2 Antigens; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; C032907:Q surface antigens