Rabbit Development

From Embryology
Rabbit.jpg

Introduction

As an embryological tool, the rabbit (Taxon- Oryctolagus cuniculus) along with human was a species which show birth defects with thalidomide (teratogenic effects not detected with prior testing on other species). These animals are herbivores with a very high breeding rate and number of offspring produced.

Links: 2009 ANAT2341 Group Project - Rabbit | Original Rabbit page

Taxon

Oryctolagus cuniculus

Taxonomy Id: 9986 Rank: species

Genetic code: Translation table 1 (Standard) Mitochondrial genetic code: Translation table 2 Other names: New Zealand rabbit[includes], rabbits[common name], European rabbit[common name], Japanese white rabbit[common name], domestic rabbit[common name], rabbit[common name], Lepus cuniculus[misnomer]

Lineage( abbreviated ): Eukaryota; Metazoa; Chordata; Craniata; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Eutheria; Lagomorpha; Leporidae; Oryctolagus

Rabbit Cycle

rabbit ovulation

Rabbit Placentation

Rabbit implantation and placentation is a centric (or fusion) type, where the blastocyst adheres only to the epithelial cells (apical region) by trophectoderm forming projections.[1]

Neural Development

The data below is summarised from an excellent study of early neural development in the rabbit.[2] The same authors have studied neural development in the pig.

  • 6-8 somite stage - the flat neural plate transforms into a V-shaped neural groove (beginning at rhombo-cervical level)
  • 8 and 9 somite stage - multiple closure sites occur simultaneously at three levels
  1. incipient pros-mesencephalic transition
  2. incipient mes-rhombencephalic transition
  3. level of the first pairs of somites

results in four transient neuropores

anterior neuropore

  • 9-11 somite stages - anterior and rhombencephalic neuropores close
  • mesencephalic neuropore is very briefly present

posterior neuropore

  • largest and remains open longest
  • 9-10 somite stages - tapered (cranial) portion closes fast within
  • wide (caudal) portion closes up to a narrow slit
  • further closure slows
  • 22 somite stage - full closure occurs

compared with chick and mouse - sequence of multiple site closure resembles that of the mouse embryo, but other important aspects of neurulation resemble those of the chick embryo. In contrast to mouse and chick, no time lag between closure at the three closure sites in the rabbit was seen

Rabbit Immune Development

Rabbits generate their antibody repertoire in three stages.[3]

  1. Neonatal repertoire is generated by B lymphopoiesis in fetal liver and bone marrow (limited by preferential V(H) gene segment usage).
  2. Between 4 and 8 weeks after birth gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT) a complex primary antibody repertoire.
  3. The primary antibody repertoire is subsequently modified during antigen-dependent immune responses (the secondary repertoire).

Rabbits uniquely develop a primary antibody repertoire through somatic diversification of Ig genes (dependent on intestinal microbial flora).

Postnatal Rabbit Growth

Postnatal growth data from 2 to 34 weeks of age at biweekly intervals for New Zealand white rabbit.[4]

  • 17 male and 12 female rabbits, with the data tabulated separately.
  • Skeletal growth was complete at 28 weeks, with the 34 week values mature adult lengths.

Mean body weight

  • 2 weeks of age was 6% that at 34 weeks
  • 16 weeks was 72% of the weight at 34 weeks
  • weight continued to increase in the adult.

Mean body length

  • 2 weeks was 40% that at 34 weeks
  • 16 weeks was 91% of mature adult

Mean femoral length

  • 2 weeks was 38% of adult
  • 16 weeks was 95% of adult

Mean tibial length

  • 2 weeks was 38% of adult
  • 16 weeks was 94% of adult

References

  1. Animal models of implantation. Lee KY, DeMayo FJ. Reproduction. 2004 Dec;128(6):679-95. Review. PMID: 15579585
  2. Neurulation in the rabbit embryo. Peeters MC, Viebahn C, Hekking JW, van Straaten HW. Anat Embryol (Berl). 1998 Mar;197(3):167-75. PMID: 9543335
  3. Development of the antibody repertoire in rabbit: gut-associated lymphoid tissue, microbes, and selection. Lanning D, Zhu X, Zhai SK, Knight KL. Immunol Rev. 2000 Jun;175:214-28. Review. PMID: 10933605
  4. A longitudinal study of the growth of the New Zealand white rabbit: cumulative and biweekly incremental growth rates for body length, body weight, femoral length, and tibial length. Masoud I, Shapiro F, Kent R, Moses A. J Orthop Res. 1986;4(2):221-31. PMID: 3712130


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Cite this page: Hill, M.A. (2024, March 29) Embryology Rabbit Development. Retrieved from https://embryology.med.unsw.edu.au/embryology/index.php/Rabbit_Development

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© Dr Mark Hill 2024, UNSW Embryology ISBN: 978 0 7334 2609 4 - UNSW CRICOS Provider Code No. 00098G