Genetic profiles of three inbred strains derived from wild rats (Rattus norvegicus) trapped in Japan

In order to establish the genetic profiles of three inbred strains of rats (MITB/Yag, MITC/Yag and MITE/Yag; commonly designated as Mitake strains), which were derived from wild specimens of the Rattus norvegicus trapped in Mitake-cho, Gifu, Japan, 63 microsatellite markers were typed in these strains as well as nine other laboratory inbred strains. The data indicate that the MITB and MITC strains are very closely related (3% polymorphism between these strains), whereas the third strain MITE/Yag is relatively different from the other two strains (36% with the MITB, 39% with the MITC). Eighty-three to 58% of polymorphic loci had different alleles between the Mitake strains and the other strains, but 65-35% between the latter strains. In addition, 14 new alleles were found in the Mitake strains. These results suggest that the Mitake strains are useful for linkage analysis.