Association of a Lithogenic Abcg5/Abcg8 Allele on Chromosome 17 (Lith9) with Cholesterol Gallstone Formation in PERA/EiJ Mice

We employ quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping to identify genomic regions that harbor cholesterol gallstone susceptibility (Lith) genes in inbred mice. In a previous intercross of gallstone susceptible PERA and resistant I/LnJ mice, we detected a Lith locus on chromosome (Chr) 17 that was inherited from strain PERA and named Lith9. QTL mapping in an intercross of strain PERA with DBA/2J mice, another gallstone resistant strain, detected only a weak association of Lith9 with gallstone formation. We re-examined the genetic determinants of cholesterol gallstone susceptibility in strain PERA in a combined QTL ana…