[Problems in the genetics of stress. I. Genetic analysis of the behavior of mice in a stressful situation].

Behavior of progeny of complete diallel crossing between 4 inbred strains of mice (BALB/c, C3H/He, C57BL/6, AKR/J) in a stressful situation was studied. As a model of stressful situation, the open field test was used. A statistically significant influence of genotype on the variability of the behaviour characteristics is found. On the basis of analysis of general combining ability of the strains, a hypothesis is made that in the gene pool of BALB/c and C3H/He strains there are concentrated some genes of additive effect, which increase the strength of emotional reactions of mice in a stressful situation, while in the gene pool of C57BL/6 and AKR/J there are genes of opposite effect. An analysis of the specific combining ability demonstrates that an important role in the control of features characterizing the exploratory activity of mice is played by non-additive gene effects, in particular, the effects of over-dominance. Significant genotypic correlations between the rate of sexual maturation of female mice and their behaviour in stressful situation were observed. The mice which mature earlier are more reactive to the stressing effect of a strange environment.