Lysozyme Deficiency-an Inherited Disorder of Rabbits

A genetic disorder of rabbits consisting of a deficiency of the enzyme lysozyme is characterized. The condition appears to be inherited as an autosomal recessive trait. Most of the tissues of lysozyme-deficient rabbits including bone marrow, liver, lung. spleen and bone had levels of lysozyme which were 1% or less of the levels in the corresponding tissues of normal rabbits when measured with the lysoplate method. Levels of lysozyme in the kidney and serum were 6% of controls, but the thymus of the lysozyme-deficient rabbits had normal levels of the enzyme. All leukocytes of the lysozyme-deficient rabbits were negative for lysozyme when examined by a histobacterial technic. No morphologic lesions could be detected in any of the tissues of the lysozyme-deficient rabbits. Although several species of animals have been reported to be lysozyme deficient, this appears to be the first report of lysozyme deficiency occurring as a mutant condition. It is suggested that these mutant rabbits may be useful as a resource for experiments designed to delineate the biologic role of lysozyme.