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The genetic basis of adrenal gland weight and structure in BXD recombinant inbred mice

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Abstract

Adrenal gland function is mediated through secreted hormones, which play a vital role in the autonomic and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA)-axis-mediated stress response. The genetic underpinnings of the stress response can be approached using a quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis. This method has been used to investigate genomic regions associated with variation in complex phenotypes, but it has not been used to explore the structure of the adrenal. We used QTL analyses to identify candidate genes underlying adrenal weight and adrenal cortical zone and medulla widths. We used 64 BXD recombinant inbred (RI) strains of mice (n = 528) and 2 parental strains (C57BL/6J and DBA/2J; n = 20) to measure adrenal weights and adrenal zone widths. For adrenal weight, we found significant QTLs on chromosome 3 for females (Fawq1) and Chr 4 for males (Mawq1) and suggestive QTLs on Chrs 1, 3, 10, and 14 for females and Chrs 2, 4, 10, 17, and X for males. We identified a significant QTL on Chr 10 (Mawdq1) and a suggestive QTL on Chr 13 for male adrenal total width. For male adrenal medulla width, we found a significant QTL on Chr 5 (Mmwdq1) and a suggestive QTL on Chr 1. We also identified significant QTLs on Chrs 10 (Mxwdq1) and 14 (Mxwdq2) for male X-zone width. There are 113 genes that mapped within the significant QTL intervals, and we identified 4 candidate genes associated with adrenal structure and/or function. In summary, this study is an important first step for detecting genetic factors influencing the structure of the adrenal component of the HPA axis using QTL analyses, which may relate to adrenal function and provide further insights into elucidating genes critical for stress-related phenotypes.

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Acknowledgments

Animals used in this study were provided primarily by Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Generous funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) enabled this project to be performed (DA020677 and AA016666). We thank Dr. Elissa Chesler, Richard Cushing, Meifen Lu, Barbara Jackson, Leslie Galloway, Darla Miller, Dr. Robert Williams, Heena Lad, and Dr. Douglas Matthews for their expert assistance, as well as Dr. Nicole Gallo-Payet, Dr. James P. Herman, and Dr. Yvonne Ulrich-Lai for their expertise and assistance with adrenal gland endocrinology. We also thank those in the Goldowitz Lab who assisted with this project, including Suvina To, Gurjit Rai, Mussawar Ahmed, Christopher Yeh, Derek Rains, and Ann Lu.

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  1. John Buhler Research Centre, Department of Human Anatomy and Cell Science, University of Manitoba, Winnpeg, R3L 3P4, MB, Canada

    Domenico L. Di Curzio

  2. Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, Child and Family Research Institute, Department Medical Genetics, Graduate Program in the Neurosciences, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, V5Z 4H4, BC, Canada

    Domenico L. Di Curzio & Daniel Goldowitz

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  1. Domenico L. Di Curzio
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Correspondence to Domenico L. Di Curzio or Daniel Goldowitz.

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Di Curzio, D.L., Goldowitz, D. The genetic basis of adrenal gland weight and structure in BXD recombinant inbred mice. Mamm Genome 22, 209–234 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00335-011-9315-9

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