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The Journal of Heredity 1990:81(6):413-417
© 1990 The American Genetic Association 81:413-417

research-article

Hereditary C8{alpha}-{gamma} Deficiency Associated with Dwarfism in the Rabbit

M. Komatsu1, K. Imaoka2, M. Satoh1, and H. Mikami1

1Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, National Institute of Animal Industry Tsukuba. Jbaraki 305
2Laboratory Animal Research Center, Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo Tokyo 108, Japan

Address reprint requests to Dr. Komatsu, who is now at the Research Council Secretariat, MAFF, 1-2-1 Kasumigaseki Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100, Japan.

Abstract

Rabbits deficient in C8{alpha}-{gamma} (C8D) were examined for physiological characteristics and linkage relationships. All the C8D rabbits (more than 180 animals obtained thus far) were consistently smaller than normal littermates from birth to adulthood, i.e., 86% of normal size at birth, 57% of normal size at 35 days of age, and 68% of normal size at adulthood. Thus, the C8{alpha}-{gamma} deficiency in rabbits is always associated with dwarfism. Furthermore, there appears to be a discrete recessive dwarf gene (dw-2), whose locus is not linked to that of C8D. Rabbits double-homozygous for C8D and dw-2 (severe dwarf) were smaller than the C8D or dwarf rabbits. The segregation of C8D and severe dwarf rabbits in the F2 and backcross offspring was not distorted at birth. However, almost all of the severe dwarf rabbits died within 35 days after birth. The actual and relative weights of the thymus in the C8D rabbits were consistently lower than those of normal rabbits, but histological examination of the C8D thymus did not reveal any abnormalities. Adult C8D rabbits did not produce serum antinuclear antibodies. The C8D and dwarf rabbits were fertile; however, crosses of C8D females with C8D or dwarf males led to a reduced delivery rate and small litter size. The C8D locus is loosely linked to the C3 hypocomplementemic locus (C3-hypo) (map distance 24 cM) but not to the Hg blood group locus.


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