Attempt to Modify Hereditary Chromogenic Genes by Heterophile Antimelanin Immunization. ∗

Abstract

The demonstration by Adant 1 that beef-choroid melanin is antigenic for albino rabbits and that the resulting antiserums give complement-deviation reactions with rabbit-melanin, has suggested the possibility of modifying hereditary chromogenic functions by heterophil antimelanin immunization.

To test this possibility; a series of 12 pedigreed female albino rabbits were given 6 subcutaneous; 6 intraperitoneal, followed by 6 intravenous injections with native beef-melanin, at 5-day time intervals, the technic identical with that used by Adant. About 4 days after the final immunizing dose, the presumably melaninimmune albino females were mated with a pedigreed heterozygous black. Subcutaneous melanin injections were resumed 3 to 6 days later and continued at weekly intervals throughout pregnancy.

Eight litters, born to these presumably melanin-immune albino mothers, and 4 control litters born to non-immune albino females, are summarized in Table I.

Within the limits of the experimental error, no modification of hereditary chromogenic functions is demonstrable by this method of heterophile immunization.