Induced Expression of the Male Isoantigen in the Skin of Female Mice. ∗

Summary

It has been previously assumed that the “male” isoantigen of mice is determined by a gene located on the Y chromosome. This study seems to indicate that newborn female skin, nourished in a male environment, can be induced to express the male antigen. Hence the expression of this antigen seems to be influenced by the Y chromosome only in its “male-determining” role, and the gene responsible for the production of this antigen may be present in both sexes.