Association of the antibody response to hemocyanin with behavior in mice bred for high or low antibody responsiveness.

Researchers attempted to find a genetic correlation between the antibody response and some behaviors by comparing the behavioral profile of good antibody-producing mice (Biozzi's H mice) with that of bad antibody producers (Biozzi's L mice). The behavioral tests used were 2 open fields, a light-darkness test, and reaction to capture; the antigen was keyhole limpet hemocyanin, and blood levels of immunoglobulin (Classes IgM and IgG) antibodies to hemocyanin were measured by diffusion-in-gel-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. H and L mice differed in the magnitude of the antibody response (H > L), in reaction to capture (L > H), and in rearing in 1 of the open fields (L > H). Yet the level of IgM or IgG antibodies was uncorrelated with those behaviors in the (H x L) F2 hybrids and in outbred CD1 mice. Thus, the behavioral differences between H and L mice are not due to the antibody response genes but to other genes fixed during selection for antibody responsiveness.