DEVELOPMENT OF THE KVL SEGREGATING INBRED STRAIN OF THE SYRIAN-HAMSTER (MESOCRICETUS-AURATUS)

A new colony of a single segregating inbred strain of the Syrian hamst er (Mesocricetus auratus), designated KVL, has recently been developed at the Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, Copenhagen, Denm ark. The segregation occurs with respect to coat colour (pied gray/pie d brown) as a result of inbreeding with forced heterozygosity. After 2 0 generations average litter size was 6.7 at birth and 5.57 at weaning . Mean generation interval was 89.4 days. An initially significant dec rease in productivity (inbreeding depression) levelled out with furthe r generations and has now stabilized. The colony is being maintained.