Variability in humoral responses to DNP-KLH of rainbow trout ( [formula omitted]). Comparison of antibody kinetics and immunoglobulins spectrotypes between normal trouts and trouts obtained by gynogenesis or self-fertilization

The anti-DNP antibody responses were compared between conventional trouts produced in fishfarm and trouts experimentally obtained by self-fertilization of hermaphrodites or by gynogenesis. The variability of anti-DNP antibody titres was equivalent between normal and gynogenetic fish, but significantly reduced for fish obtained by self-fertilization. Isoelectrofocusing analysis of individually-isolated anti-DNP antibodies indicate low molecular heterogeneity but large variability between conventional trouts. Almost complete sharing of individual spectrotypes was observed between self-fertilized fish and large similarities between gynogenetics animals. These results suggest that the intensity of antibody synthesis in trout is under a complex genetic control, even in inbred animals expressing large similarities in their antibody repertoires.