| First Author | Warner CM | Year | 1993 |
| Journal | J Reprod Fertil | Volume | 99 |
| Issue | 1 | Pages | 145-7 |
| PubMed ID | 8283431 | Mgi Jnum | J:15841 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:63952 | Doi | 10.1530/jrf.0.0990145 |
| Citation | Warner CM, et al. (1993) Preferential survival of mice expressing the Qa-2 antigen. J Reprod Fertil 99(1):145-7 |
| abstractText | The Ped gene, a gene that influences the rate of embryonic cleavage division, birth weight, litter size and weaning weight, is at least partially encoded by gene(s) that specify the Qa-2 antigen. Two congenic strains of mice, B6.K1 (Qa-2 negative) and B6.K2 (Qa-2 positive), which differ only at the Q region of the mouse major histocompatibility complex (MHC), were tested for the effect of the presence or absence of Qa-2 antigen on litter size, duration of gestation and embryo survival. It was confirmed that B6.K1 (Qa-2 negative) mice have smaller litters than do B6.K2 (Qa-2 positive) mice. In addition, the duration of gestation for the B6.K1 mice was found to be longer than the duration of gestation for the B6.K2 mice. Finally, a comparison of the relative survival of Qa-2-positive and Qa-2-negative mice in a single uterine environment showed the preferential survival of mice expressing the Qa-2 antigen. Thus, the presence of Qa-2 antigen appears to be advantageous for reproductive success. |
