| Abstract: | Several class II α and β chain genes of the rabbit MHC have been cloned and classified into three distinct subregions, R-DP, R-DQ and R-DR, based on their homology to the corresponding HLA-DP, -DQ and -DR genes. The organization of the rabbit MHC class II genes has now been studied in greater detail by analysing genomic DNA of an inbred III/J strain and several other RLA-D homozygous rabbits, with DNA probes derived from cloned R-DRβ genes. Eight previously cloned R-DRβ genes were shown to be allelic forms of five R-DRβ loci. Genomic blot analyses of DNA from seven rabbits homozygous for different RLA haplotypes revealed that the germline contains a total of approximately seven class II β genes, one DQβ, one DPβ and five DRβ. Extensive allelic polymorphism was identified by RFLP analysis using DQ and DR probes; limited RFLP was observed with DP probes. RFLP analyses allowed us to distinguish two haplotypes which had not been previously distinguished by MLR. Such RFLP analyses will be useful for identifying MHC ‘compatible’ rabbits for various immunobiological studies, including transplantation. |
