Areq^DBA/2J
QTL Variant Detail

Summary

• QTL variant: Areq^DBA/2J
• Name: Arrb2 eQTL; DBA/2J
• MGI ID: MGI:3804843
• QTL: Areq Location: unknown Genetic Position: Chr11, Syntenic

Variant origin

• Strain of Specimen: DBA/2J

Variant description

• Allele Type: QTL

Notes

Mapping and Phenotype information for this QTL, its variants and associated markers

J:138011

Arrb2 displays elevated expression in the striatum and hippocampus of ethanol-preferring rat strain AA. Authors studied mRNA expression levels of the mouse ortholog of Arrb2 (chr 11, 45 cM) in brains from BXD recombinant inbred strains and mapped a cis-regulatory eQTL for Arrb2 expression directly above the gene location at 45 cM. This eQTL is named Areq (Arrb2 eQTL). The eQTL displays significant linkage to Arrb2 expression in mouse prefrontal cortex (LOD=5.1), hippocampus (LOD=9.8) and striatum (LOD=8.2). These regions correspond to areas of the rat brain where Arrb2 expression shows the greatest difference between ethanol-preferring and ethanol-non preferring rat strains. There was no correlation between Arrb2 expression and mouse cerebellum. In addition, genes neighboring Arrb2 did not display eQTL activity.

Mice homozygous or heterozygous for the Arrb2 knockout allele (Arrb2^tm1Rjl) on a C57BL/6J genetic background displayed decreased ethanol preference and ethanol consumption compared to wild type animals. Homozygous knockout animals displayed decreased blood ethanol concentration and decreased ethanol-induced locomotor activation compared to wild type. Heterozygous knockout animals displayed decreased sensitivity to ethanol-induced locomotor activation but were similar to wild type with respect to blood ethanol concentration.

References

• Original: J:138011 Bjork K, et al., Modulation of voluntary ethanol consumption by beta-arrestin 2. FASEB J. 2008 Jul;22(7):2552-60
• All: 1 reference(s)