Polymorphic microsatellite loci and PCR multiplexing in the common vole,Microtus arvalis

We isolated and characterized 14 dinucleotide microsatellite loci in the common vole Microtus arvalis (Palas). Two multiplex panels both comprising seven loci were developed. Application to a set of 21 individuals allowed clear and easy characterization of allele sizes except for two loci which were then withdrawn from further analyses. The number of alleles ranged from four to 19 per locus with the observed heterozygosity ranging from 0.55 to 0.95. These sets of microsatellite loci provide high throughput capacity for population genetic studies at a minimum cost.