Genetic effects on serum cholesterol concentrations in baboons

Six male and 134 female adult baboons were assigned to high or low lines on the basis of response of total serum cholesterol concentration to a high cholesterol, high saturated fat diet. Positive assortative mating of these breeders produced 36 high-line and 42 low-line progeny, of which 30 high-line and 39 low-line progeny survived to one year of age. The mean serum cholesterol concentrations of the progeny produced in the two lines were significantly different at all ages from birth to one year. The serum cholesterol levels at birth were not strongly correlated with subsequent levels, but those after 3 weeks were highly correlated with one another. Heritability of total serum cholesterol concentration was estimated by realized heritability, correlation coefficients between parent and progeny values, and by regression coefficients of progeny values on mid-parent value. Estimates of heritability of serum cholesterol level at birth were low, but from 3 weeks to one year of age they ranged from 0.25 to 0.80 and averaged about 0.45. There was a correlated response of HDL and LDL cholesterol levels at one year to selection for total serum cholesterol.