The major histocompatibility complex, MnLA, of pigtailed macaques: definition of fifteen specificities.

The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) of pigtailed macaques (Macaca nemestrina, Mn) is defined and designated as MnLA. Twenty-nine alloantisera were generated by fullsib alloimmunization and tested against a panel of 220 unrelated animals. The reactivities of different alloantisera were analyzed statistically in pairwise comparisons. Using 2 X 2 contingency tables, we calculated chi 2 independence, chi 2 allelism, and correlation coefficient values. Initially, specificities were defined by significant associations of certain sera, but some sera defined specificities individually. In all, 15 specificities were defined, and by family studies and negative correlation coefficients, a two-locus model was evident. Genetic analyses, together with statistical applications, revealed that the behavior of these specificities is consistent with the nature of MHC in other primate species, including man.