The role of the left end of the H-2b haplotype in the male-specific cytotoxic T cell response.

The male-specific cytotoxic T cell response was tested in various mouse strains. We found that priming with 10(7) nonirradiated or 2 x 10(7) X-irradiated cells (2000 Rad) was similarly effective in B6 mice. We have avoided possible allogeneic effects due to priming F1 hybrids with parental cells and tested all mice after the same time interval for generation of male-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes in vitro. Under these conditions, we found an absolute requirement for H-2b gene products, encoded left of B, in order to see male-specific responses.