Inheritance of spontaneous activity in rats.

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Abstract
With the use of Stewart rotating drum 24 [male] and 24 [female] rats were measured for spontaneous activity, beginning at the age of 55 days, for 21 days. On the basis of the records of the last 15 days, the rats were ranked in terms of activity, and those of similar activity were mated to produce active and inactive groups. In each group the animals were either inbred or were bred among close relatives from generation to generation. Up to F5 the active and inactive groups did not differentiate themselves significantly. From F6 on (F12 at present) the 2 groups became distinctive and each bred true. The data obtained warrant the following conclusions: The individual differences in spontaneous activity are largely inherent. Activity appears to be partially dominant to inactivity. The inactive strain is more homozygous for activity than the active. [female] [female] are more active than [male] [male] even at an age of 55-76 days. The inactive strain has more sterile matings, smaller litters, and takes longer to reproduce. Activity is very slightly, if at all, related to maze learning or initial weight.

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