The phenotype differences between the LH-17BN and LH-17LN strains are likely due to the fact that the BN genome vastly differs from both the LH and the LN genome and may harbor its own susceptibility alleles for salt sensitivity and hypercholesterolemia which are masked in the BN genome but revealed on the LH genome background. This evidence concerns the gene PLOD1 and familial hypercholesterolemia.