Genetic parameters of serum cholesterol levels, activity and growth in mice

Heritabilities (h2) of, and phenotypic and genetic correlations among, serum cholesterol (SC), levels of physical activity, growth, and body moisture content were estimated from data on 466 sire-son pairs of random-bred, ICR albino mice. Heritability estimates of SC and body moisture content were 0.31 +/- 0.07 and 0.29 +/- 0.11, respectively. Estimates of h2 for activity measured by standard exercise wheels at 28, 49 and 70 days of age were 0.31 +/- 0.17, 0.50 +/- 0.11 and 0.27 +/- 0.14 and for weight at 21, 44 and 67 days of age, were 0.11 +/- 0.09, 0.33 +/- 0.09 and 0.42 +/- 0.08, respectively. The estimates of h2 for weight gain ranged from 0.22 +/- 0.07 to 0.27 +/- 0.08. Significant negative phenotypic correlations occurred between activity and rate of body weight gain. A negative genetic correlation of -0.70 +/- 0.11 between SC and body moisture implied that SC and percent body fat are positively correlated. Genetic correlations among SC values and activity scores and between SC values and body weight gains were near zero.