title: Dahl (S × R) rat congenic strain analysis confirms and defines a chromosome 17 spatial navigation quantitative trait locus to <10 Mbp.
abstract: A quantitative trait locus (QTL) linked with ability to find a platform in the Morris Water Maze (MWM) was located on chromosome 17 (Nav-5 QTL) using intercross between Dahl S and Dahl R rats. We developed two congenic strains, S.R17A and S.R17B introgressing Dahl R-chromosome 17 segments into Dahl S chromosome 17 region spanning putative Nav-5 QTL. Performance analysis of S.R17A, S.R17B and Dahl S rats in the Morris water maze (MWM) task showed a significantly decreased spatial navigation performance in S.R17B congenic rats when compared with Dahl S controls (P = 0.02). The S.R17A congenic segment did not affect MWM performance delimiting Nav-5 to the chromosome 17 65.02-74.66 Mbp region. Additional fine mapping is necessary to identify the specific gene variant accounting for Nav-5 effect on spatial learning and memory in Dahl rats.
authors.affiliation: Section of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America.
authors.forename: Victoria L
authors.initials: VL
authors.lastname: Herrera
authors.forename: Khristine A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Pasion
authors.forename: Glaiza A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: Nelson
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ruiz-Opazo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D020296:Animals, Congenic; D033481:Chromosomes, Mammalian / Q000235:genetics*; D003433:Crosses, Genetic; D006824:Hybridization, Genetic; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory; D040641:Quantitative Trait Loci / Q000235:genetics*; D051381:Rats; D020303:Rats, Inbred Dahl; D013037:Spatial Behavior / Q000502:physiology*