MHC Social Signaling Affects Reproductive Strategies of Stallions and Mares

The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) plays an important role in the immune system of vertebrates and has repeatedly been found to influence social signaling in the context of mate preferences, cryptic female choice, and kin recognition. Evidence for MHC social signaling has been reported in more than 20 vertebrate species so far, including man. In the context of mate preferences, MHC-dissimilar mating partners tend to be preferred over MHC-similar ones, either to avoid inbreeding or to increase heterozygosity among the offspring.
Source: Journal of Equine Veterinary Science - Category: Veterinary Research Authors: Source Type: research