Physiol. Genomics 13: 241-247, 2003.
First published March 18, 2003; doi:10.1152/physiolgenomics.00137.2002
1094-8341/03 $5.00
Received 16 October 2002;
accepted in final form 10 March 2003.
Physiological Genomics 13:241-247 (2003)
1094-8341/02 $5.00 © 2003 American Physiological Society
Genetic component of sensorimotor capacity in rats
Lauren Gerard Koch
and
Steven L. Britton
Functional Genomics Laboratory, Medical College of Ohio, Toledo, Ohio 43614-5804
Creation of generalized genetic models for low and high sensorimotor capacity would be important tools for resolution of this complex trait. As proof-of-principle we estimated phenotypic variation and narrow-sense heritability (h2) of sensorimotor capacity in 19 families of genetically heterogeneous N:NIH rats and in 11 strains of inbred rats. Sensorimotor capacity was defined as the time a rat remained on an accelerating rotorod. N:NIH rats recorded variation in rotorod scores that ranged from 3- to 7-fold. The value of h2, estimated from offspring-parent regression across one generation, was 0.68 for females and 0.74 for males in N:NIH rats. In inbred rats, h2 was estimated by partitioning phenotypic variation into additive genetic and environmental components and averaged 0.39 in females and 0.48 in males. These results demonstrate a heritable component to sensorimotor capacity sufficient for success in developing contrasting genetic models by divergent artificial selection in rats.
inbred strains; N:NIH rats; rotorod; heritability; variation
