GENETIC VARIABILITY IN FOREBRAIN STRUCTURES BETWEEN INBRED STRAINS OF MICE

Brain from males of 9 inbred strains of house mice were examined. Measures used were volume of total brain, absolute and relative volume of neocortex and hippocampus, and cross-sectional area of these structures at several longitudinal sampling points. The results provide evidence for substantial amounts of genetically associated within-species variability, particularly in absolute and relative volume of the structures. Some possible functional implications of this variability were suggested, and it was proposed that this variability might be used experimentally, by employment of genetic selection techniques, to alter the mouse brain systematically. © 1969.