1994 Volume 43 Issue 1 Pages 111-113
The TESS line, the first tester line of the Suncus has been developed. The TESS shrews are homozygous for three morphological mutant genes, ch, cr and rd. The gene (suc) for sucrase activity deficiency in intestinal brush-border membranes also exists in the line, and its frequency was 34.3%. The deficients could easily be identified by the drastic body-weight lossing up to more than 15% of the initial weight, that aroused two days after replacement of the drinking water for its 10%-sucrose solution. The TESS shrews have been maintained as a closed-colony consisting of more than 30 individuals, and will be utilized in linkage analysis with the four loci (ch, cr, rd and sue) .