International Mammalian Genome Society

The 15th International Mouse Genome Conference (2001)

Table of Contents * Complex Genetics * Developmental Genetics * Gene Annotation * Gene Discovery * Genome Sequencing * Functional Genomics * Mutagenesis * Presentations * Verne Chapman Memorial Lecture

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POSTER 14 - BEHAVIORAL DIFFERENCES AMONG 129 SUBSTRAINS MAY HAVE IMPORTANT IMPLICATIONS FOR KNOCKOUT AND TRANSGENIC STUDIES

Dr Melloni Cook
David Axelrod Institute
Genomics Institute
Wadsworth Center
120 New Scotland Avenue
P.O. Box 22002
Albany, NY 12201-2002
USA

Co-Authors:  Boliver VJ, McFadyen MP, and Flaherty L
Institution:   Genomics Institute, Wadsworth Center  

Behavioral differences among 129 substrains may have important implications for knockout and transgenic studies

Most knockout and transgenic animals are produced with embryonic stem (ES) cells derived from the 129 mouse strain.  Since most established knockout strains of mice retain a portion of their genome from 129, especially around the ablated target locus, some of the characteristics previously attributed to the ablated locus may be due to passenger 129 genes.  In this respect, we were especially concerned with previously reported behavioral differences.  Therefore, seven 129 substrains were put through a battery of tasks to determine behavioral profiles of these strains.  Differences were found in anxiety-related behaviors in the zero-maze and in habituation to the open-field.  All strains exhibited motor coordination on the rotorod task although some performed better than others.  Furthermore, all strains performed well in contextual and cued fear conditioning.  The behavioral differences observed among the 129 substrains for anxiety-related and open-field behaviors may have important implications for the interpretation of data and show the divergence of the behavioral performance of these substrains.