Differences between mouse strains in their consumption of phenylthiourea (PTC)

Mice from 25 laboratory strains were given the choice of drinking a dilute (100 mg/litre) solution of phenylthiourea (PTC) or a control solution containing no PTC. The consumption of PTC by each strain was measured daily over a period of 10 days. There was considerable variation between strains in their consumption of PTC. The mean PTC consumption of the 13 albino strains was less than the mean of the 12 pigmented strains. Most strains showed a decrease in PTC consumption during the 10 days of the experiment and the albino strains showed, on average, a greater decrease than did the pigmented strains. Tests with congenic strains proved that the albino allele itself is not the cause of the reduced PTC consumption. The possibility of a gene which is linked to the albino locus and which has an effect on PTC consumption is discussed.