Erythrocytic antigenic differences between individuals of the deer mouse,Peromyscus maniculatus

Antigenic polymorphism between individuals of the subspeciesPeromyscus maniculatus gracilisis demonstrated. 2. Absorption analysis of heteroimmune rabbit sera using erythrocytes of individual mice revealed two unitary complete (saline) agglutinins, designated as anti-A and anti-B, reactive to erythrocytic antigens in this species. Isoimmunization apparently demonstrated these same antigenic differences. 3. The two antigenic characters (A and B) defined by the agglutinins are inherited as if simply related to allelic factors designated PmAand PmBrespectively. 4. These two antigens are found in representatives of both the subspeciesP. m. gracilisandP. m. bairdii, and, in addition, the A antigen was observed in a laboratory stock ofP. polionotus. Tested individuals of the speciesP. leucopusandMus musculus, however, possessed neither antigen, and samples of human blood also lacked both antigens. 5. Species-specific agglutinins distinguishing individuals of the speciesP. leucopusandP. maniculatus, and population-specific agglutinins which distinguished between individuals of the subspeciesP. m. bairdiiandP. m. gracilis, have been observed.