A proximal genomic region of mouse chromosome 10 contains quantitative trait loci affecting fatness

Body weight and fatness are quantitative traits of agricultural and medical importance. In previous genome-wide quantitative trait locus (QTL) analyses, two QTLs for body weight and weight gain at an early postnatal growth period were discovered on mouse chromosome 10 from a gene pool of wild subspecies mice, Mus musculus castaneus. In this study, we developed a congenic strain with an approximately 63-Mb wild-derived genomic region on which the two growth QTLs could be located, by recurrent backcrossing to the common inbred strain C57BL/6J. We compared body weights at 1-10 weeks of age, body weight gains at 1-3, 3-6 and 6-10 weeks, internal organ weights and body lengths between the congenic strain developed and C57BL/6J. Unfortunately, no effects of the two growth QTLs on body weights and weight gains were confirmed. However, at least two new QTLs affecting fatness traits were discovered within the introgressed congenic region. The wild-derived allele at one QTL increased body mass index, whereas at another one it decreased white fat pad weight and adiposity index. Thus, the congenic mouse strain developed here is a useful model animal for understanding the genetic and molecular basis of fat deposition in livestock as well as humans.