Genetic control of the immune response to myoglobin. VIII. Control of antibody affinity.

We have previously shown that the antibody response to mammalian myoglobins is under genetic control. In the present study we examined antibodies to sperm-whale. Atlantic bottlenosed dolphin, Black Sea dolphin, horse and badger myoglobins, raised in high responder strains of mice, to ascertain whether there is genetic control of antibody affinity to mammalian myoglobins. Using antisera of varying dilutions, the binding to 125I-labelled homologous myoglobins was studied by inhibition with homologous myoglobin over a wide range of inhibitor concentration in a modified Farr essay. The results indicated that there are no large differences between high responder strains of mice in the affinity of antibodies to mammalian myoglobins.