Immunogenetic Studies of the Goldfish (Carassius auratus)

Citation

Hildemann, William Henry (1956) Immunogenetic Studies of the Goldfish (Carassius auratus). Dissertation (Ph.D.), California Institute of Technology. doi:10.7907/1011-D785. https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechETD:etd-03242004-095231

Abstract

Transplantation experiments with goldfish scales showed that autografts became normally revascularized and persisted without any inflammation whatever. Homografts elicited an immune response, which was measured by determining median survival times and inflammatory reactions under various conditions. A plot of median survival times against temperature demonstrated that previous grafting from the same donor and higher water temperature both accelerated homograft destruction. The duration and intensity of the host's inflammatory reaction were closely associated with the rapidity of donor tissue destruction. The duration of the first inflammatory phase was dependent upon the rapidity of soft tissue destruction, while the second inflammatory phase was associated with slow digestion of the acellular scale plate. Both soft tissue and scale plate digestion showed the second-set phenomenon. Reciprocal-homografting operations were undertaken within a pedigree in an effort to estimate the number of genetic loci concerned with scale transplant specificities. Complete crossgrafting of 23 F1 sibs and 23 F2 sibs, respectively, revealed no compatible combinations. Reciprocal parent-offspring homografts were also unsuccessful. It was determined that at least four independent histocompatibility loci were required to account for the mutual incompatibility observed. Techniques were developed for bleeding and isoimmunization of goldfish, together with methods for handling, preservation, and typing of goldfish erythrocytes. Experiments with isoimmune and rabbit antisera demonstrated the existence of numerous individual differences in the red cell antigens of goldfish.

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