The characteristics of motor activity in ISIAH rats in an open field test are controlled by genes on chromosomes 2 and 16.

Quantitative Trait Locus (QTL) analysis was used to identify the loci of polygenic characteristics in a study of the genetic determination of the behavior of rats with inherited stress-induced arterial hypertension (ISIAH rats). Analysis was performed using males of two populations of F2 hybrids (ISIAH x WAG) of different ages: 3-4 (n = 106) and six months (n = 130). Chromosomes 2 and 16 in the young population of F2 rats showed significant associations between two characteristics of behavior in ISIAH rats and genetic loci: a) the rats' motor activity at the periphery of the open field area with loci in the regions of markers D2Rat157-D2Rat88 (LOD score 4.83; p = 0.000058) and D16Rat32 (LOD score 3.71; p = 0.00023). Together, these two loci accounted for 42.9% of the trait variability; b) the rats' motor activity during the first minute of the open field test and loci in the region of the marker D16Rat58 (LOD score 3.78; p = 0.00028). Results obtained by QTL analysis demonstrated a relationship between the genetic control of these traits and the animals' age.