9 POLYMORPHIC MARKERS CHARACTERIZED BY POLYMERASE CHAIN-REACTION TECHNIQUES FORM 2 LINKAGE GROUPS ON RAT CHROMOSOME-8

Five genes and four anonymous polymorphic markers, forming two linkage groups, were mapped in Fz intercross progeny of F344/N x LEW/N rats u sing polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques. Both linkage groups w ere assigned to rat chromosome 8 because they contained genetic loci p reviously mapped to this chromosome. The first group was comprised of markers for three anonymous loci and two gene loci, thymus cell antige n-1 (Thy1) and tropoelastin (Eln). The second group was comprised of m arkers for one anonymous locus and three gene loci, cellular retinol b inding protein II (Rbp2), matrin F/G (Matr1), and acyl-peptide hydrola se (Apeh). Seven markers (identified by simple sequence repeat associa ted length polymorphisms) were characterized in an additional 13 inbre d rat strains (ACI/N, BN/SsN, BUF/N, LER/N, LOU/ MN, MNR/N, MR/N, SHR/ N, SR/Jr, SS/Jr, WBB1/N, WBB2/N, and WKY/N). Two to six alleles were d etected for each marker. The reported markers should facilitate geneti c mapping and monitoring of inbred rat strains.