title: The turkey major histocompatibility complex: characterization by mixed lymphocyte, graft-versus-host splenomegaly, and skin graft reactions.
abstract: A turkey subline at the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center was developed by DNA typing of the MHC using a chicken MHC Class II probe, and it segregated for specific MHC genotypes. Histocompatibility was examined between turkeys of known MHC genotype using skin graft procedures, mixed lymphocyte reactions (MLR), and graft-versus-host reactions (GVHR). Skin grafts were exchanged among 3-wk-old turkeys and it was found that when birds shared DNA patterns (genotypes), the skin grafts were usually accepted. In contrast, skin grafts were always rejected when birds did not share the identical DNA pattern. Similarly, MLR only occurred when the lymphocytes were derived from birds that did not share the same DNA pattern. Lastly, GVHR were examined in embryos injected with either sire or dam blood. The GVHR in embryos was dependent on the parental MHC genotype. Four MHC haplotypes were identified in the turkey subline. The turkey MHC has been designated MhcMega-B, and each of the haplotypes, Mega-B(1) through Mega-B(4).
authors.affiliation: Department of Poultry Science, Ohio State University, Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, Wooster, 44691.
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Emara
authors.forename: K E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Nestor
authors.forename: L D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Bacon
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006087:Graft vs Host Reaction; D007959:Lymphocyte Culture Test, Mixed / Q000662:veterinary; D008285:Major Histocompatibility Complex; D008297:Male; D011201:Poultry Diseases / Q000276:immunology; D016038:Skin Transplantation / Q000276:immunology / Q000662:veterinary; D013163:Splenomegaly / Q000276:immunology / Q000662:veterinary; D014422:Turkeys / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*