Abstract
Senescence-Accelerated Mouse (SAM) strains were characterized with molecular genetic tools. Microsatellite DNA markers were utilized to obtain genetic profiles of these strains. Out of 581 microsatellite markers examined, 215 were polymorphic among the SAM strains. All strains had different genetic profiles. The cluster analysis of the strains calculated from the rate of shared alleles at the microsatellite loci corresponded well to the strain genealogy. A minimum set of microsatellite loci to distinguish each strain (critical set) was selected for genetic monitoring. Also complete mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequences were determined from the SAM strains. Sequence comparisons revealed four variations among the strains at positions 2256, 10,847, 11,181, and 13,053. These variations were not found in other mouse strains, which included strain AKR/J, one of the parental strains of SAM. The SAM strains could be classified into three types according to combinations of the four variations. A genetic monitoring system for SAM strains has been established based on these genetic profiles. We propose that all SAM colony holders adopt this system and periodically practice genetic monitoring on their SAM colonies.
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