title: A quantitative-genetic analysis of hippocampal variation in the mouse.
abstract: This report analyses the genetic underpinnings of the proportions of the hippocampal terminal fields in the mouse at the midseptotemporal level. We used 5 inbred strains and all possible F1 crosses between them (diallel cross). Broad heritabilities ranged from 11 to 53%. Additive genetic variation was present for all phenotypes analyzed. Directional dominance was found for the relative size of the suprapyramidal mossy fiber terminal field only. For the stratum lacunosum-moleculare, ambidirectional dominance emerged. These findings suggest that, in evolutionary history, directional selection has operated for a proportionally large suprapyramidal terminal field. For all other hippocampal variables (viz. the relative sizes for the strata oriens, pyramidale, radiatum, lacunosum-moleculare, CA4, intra- and infrapyramidal mossy fiber terminal field and the absolute size of the regio inferior) past stabilizing selection was inferred.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005838:Genotype; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D006824:Hybridization, Genetic; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008811:Mice, Inbred DBA; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D010641:Phenotype