International Mammalian Genome Society

The 16th International Mouse Genome Conference (2002)

Plenary Presentations * Oral Presentations *
Poster Presentations: Complex Genetics and Disease Modifiers * Developmental Genetics * Functional Genomics * Gene Discovery * Genetic Manipulations to Alter Gene Function * Mouse Models: Human Disease and Pharmacogenetics * Sequence Annotation and Comparative Analysis of Genomes *
Attendees * Sponsors * Table of Contents * Photographs * Awards

POSTER 1 - VOLUNTARY ETHANOL CONSUMPTION BY MICE: GENOME-WIDE ANALYSIS OF QUANTITATIVE TRAIT LOCI AND THEIR INTERACTIONS IN A C57BL/6ByJ ´ 129P3/J F2 INTERCROSS

V. Botchkarev
Monell Chemical Senses Center

Bachmanov A, Reed D, Li X, Beauchamp G, Tordoff M
Monell Chemical Senses Center

Consumption of ethanol solutions by rodents in two-bottle choice tests is a model to study human alcohol intake.  Mice of the C57BL/6ByJ strain have higher ethanol preferences and intakes than do mice of the 129P3/J strain.  F2 hybrids between these two strains were phenotyped using two-bottle tests involving a choice between water and either 3% or 10% ethanol.  High ethanol preferences and intakes of the B6 mice were inherited as additive or dominant traits in the F2 generation.  A genome screen using these F2 mice identified three significant linkages.  Two loci, on distal chromosome 4 (Ap3q) and proximal chromosome 7 (Ap7q), strongly affected 10% ethanol intake and weakly affected 3% ethanol intake.  A male-specific locus on proximal chromosome 8 (Ap8q) affected 3% ethanol preference, but not indexes of 10% ethanol consumption.  In addition, six suggestive linkages (on chromosomes 2, 9, 12, 13, 17 and 18) affecting indexes of 3% and/or 10% ethanol consumption were detected.  The loci with significant and suggestive linkages accounted for 35 - 44% of the genetic variation in ethanol consumption phenotypes.  No additive-by-additive epistatic interactions were detected for the primary loci with significant and suggestive linkages.  However, there were a few modifiers of the primary linkages, and a number of interactions among unlinked loci.  This demonstrates a significant role of genetic background in the variation of ethanol consumption.