Genetic polymorphism of IgG in the mink. VIII. A quantitative study of the expression of C gamma-allotypes (H3, H4, H6, H8) in sera.

The results of a quantitative study of the expression of mink C gamma-allotypes (H3, H4, H6, and H8) in sera are presented. H6 and H8 were found to be stably expressed, and the individual concentrations of the allotypes varied within one order of magnitude. Gene dosage effects were observed for H6 and H8: average sera allotype concentrations in homozygotes were twice those in heterozygotes. In contrast, the serum concentrations of H3 and H4 varied by three orders of magnitude, ranging from minor (2-200 micrograms/ml) to high (1-10 mg/ml). No gene dosage effects were observed for the expression of H3 and H4. Histograms for the population of H3 concentrations showed three peaks, sharply differing from those of H4, H6, and H8. There was no association between the minor expression of H3 and H4. The data obtained indicate that the expression of mink C gamma-allotypes is regulated by different allotype-specific mechanisms.