Histocompatibility Antigens in Transplanted Mouse Eggs

Abstract

THE hypotheses advanced to account for the success of the foetus as an intra-uterine homograft in pregnancy have recently been reviewed by Billingham¹. Three possible mechanisms have been suggested to explain the apparent lack of immunological reaction by the pregnant mother against the genetically foreign offspring with which she is in intimate contact²: (a) the antigenic immaturity of the foetus; (b) the immunological inertness of the mother; and (c) some form of anatomical separation of the foetus from the mother. It has, however, been shown that transplantation antigens appear early in embryonic life and that the mother, though pregnant, is fully capable of reacting against these antigens^3–5. In addition, it has been shown that the uterus is not a specially privileged recipient site for prolonged homograft survival^6,7.