Single-locus control of saccharin intake in BXD/Ty recombinant inbred (RI) mice: Some methodological implications for RI strain analysis

The sac locus, with a major effect on saccharin preference, was discovered by Fuller (1974) in C57BL/6J (B6), DBA/2J (D2), and derived crosses, and is now supported in the BXD/Ty recombinant inbred (RI) series by a marked bimodal distribution in saccharin preference among 20 strains. The B6 allele led to increased saccharin preference compared to the D2 allele. Since the search for bimodal distributions reflecting major gene loci is an essential part of RI strain analysis, a new statistical method is proposed to test for bimodality, and comparisons are made to previously proposed methods. Another new RI method, quantitative trait loci (QTL) analysis, allows provisional detection and mapping of minor as well as major gene loci. Using this method as a screen, significant associations with saccharin preference were suggested with marker loci on portions of six chromosomes. One of these, the D12nyu1 locus on chromosome 12, was independently supported in a panel of standard (non-RI) inbred strains also tested for saccharin preference. It is unclear whether this reflects the sac locus.