title: Genetic component of sensorimotor capacity in rats.
abstract: 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 (h(2)) 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 h(2), 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, h(2) 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.
authors.affiliation: Functional Genomics Laboratory, Medical College of Ohio, Toledo, Ohio 43614-5804, USA. lkoch@mco.edu
authors.forename: Lauren Gerard
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Koch
authors.forename: Steven L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Britton
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D021461:Animals, Outbred Strains; D005260:Female; D018703:Founder Effect; D005684:Gait / Q000235:genetics*; D014644:Genetic Variation / Q000235:genetics; D007858:Learning; D008297:Male; D008957:Models, Genetic; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D011912:Rats, Inbred ACI; D011914:Rats, Inbred BN; D011915:Rats, Inbred BUF; D020303:Rats, Inbred Dahl; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D011921:Rats, Inbred WKY; D012727:Sex Characteristics