Mapping of microsatellite loci and association of aorta atherosclerosis with LG VI markers in the rabbit

Twenty-three rabbit microsatellites were extracted from the EMBL nucleotide database. Nine of these markers, together with nine earlier published micr osatellite markers, were found to be polymorphic between the AX/JU and IIIV O/JU inbred strains. By using an F-2 intercross we could integrate five mar kers into the rabbit linkage map. One anonymous microsatellite marker could be assigned to chromosome 1, and one microsatellite marker, located within the metallothionein-1 gene, could be added to linkage group VI (LG VI). Th ree microsatellite markers (one anonymous, one located within the PMP2 gene , and one located within the FABP6 gene) constitute a new linkage group (LG XI). We also measured the degree of dietary cholesterol-induced aorta athe rosclerosis in the F2 animals. A significant cosegregation was found betwee n the degree of aorta atherosclerosis and the allelic variation of the bioc hemical marker Est-2 on LG VI in male rabbits. This association was not fou nd in female rabbits.