Y-chromosomal influences on renal and adrenal measures in mice.

From a four-way cross between unrelated inbred strains of mice, a random-breeding line was developed that segregated at two coat-color loci and carried Y chromosomes from different sources. Adult males were used for measurements of body weight, kidney weight, renal papilla length, and adrenal gland weight. Clear evidence was obtained of Y-linked influences on papilla length and adrenal weight, whereas direct effects of Autosome 9 were indicated with regard to adrenal weight only. Epistatic interaction of the Y chromosome with Autosome 4 was found for kidney weight and a 4-9 interaction appeared for papilla length. The direct effects of Y-chromosomal variation are interpreted in terms of a functional relationship between adrenal action and the development of Henle's loops and, in connection with previous findings, discussed in terms of adrenal functioning in the regulation of hippocampally-mediated behaviors.