Talk:Rabbit Development

Continuous observation of rabbit preimplantation embryos in vitro by using a culture device connected to a microscope

J Am Assoc Lab Anim Sci. 2009 Jan;48(1):52-6.

Sultana F, Hatori M, Shimozawa N, Ebisawa T, Sankai T.

Tsukuba Primate Research Center, National Institute of Biomedical Innovation, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan. Abstract We developed a compact culture device that maintains developing embryos in vitro under constant temperature and CO(2) concentration. Using this device, we cultured rabbit embryos from the pronuclear stage to the hatched blastocyst stage and recorded their development digitally for 7 d. Recorded images were converted to a movie, and the developmental movement of individual embryos was analyzed. With this culture system, we can observe embryonic development in a suitable environment continuously for several days; similar long-term observation is not possible in the conventional system. The proportion of embryos that developed from the pronuclear stage to the blastocyst stage was the same in the new system (73.1%; 38 of 52) as in the conventional (control) system (77.6%; 38 of 49). Compaction of embryos occurred from the 8-cell to the morula stage at 32.5 +/- 0.71 h after insemination. The time of blastocyst formation (77.2 +/- 3.2 h after insemination) varied somewhat between embryos. Average hatching time was 98.7 +/- 4.4 h after mating. Therefore, the cleavage, blastomere movement, and hatching processes of blastocysts can be followed clearly and recorded by using this new culture system.

PMID: 19245751

Inositol transport in preimplantation rabbit embryos: effects of embryo stage, sodium, osmolality and metabolic inhibitors

Warner SM, Conlon FV, Kane MT. Reproduction. 2003 Apr;125(4):479-93. Erratum in: Reproduction. 2005 Jan;129(1):128. PMID: 12683919

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

"Among a broad range of factors and mechanisms involved in the complex process of neurulation a relationship between the curvature of the craniocaudal body axis and rate of neural tube closure has been proposed, but more examples and models are needed to further substantiate the existence of this relationship. This is particularly true for mammals, where marked differences in embryonic body curvature between species exist. The rabbit embryo has virtually no curvature during the main phase of neurulation and is therefore a suitable model, but neurulation is hardly documented in this species. In the present study, therefore, neural tube closure in the rabbit embryo is presented in detail by morphological and morphometrical parameters, as well as from scanning electron microscopic investigations. At the stages of 6-8 somites, the flat neural plate transforms into a V-shaped neural groove, beginning at the rhombo-cervical level. Between the stages of 8 and 9 somites, multiple closure sites occur simultaneously at three levels: at the incipient pros-mesencephalic transition, at the incipient mes-rhombencephalic transition, and at the level of the first pairs of somites. This results in four transient neuropores. The anterior and rhombencephalic neuropores close between the stages of 9-11 somites. The mesencephalic neuropore is very briefly present. The posterior neuropore is the largest and remains longest. Its tapered (cranial) portion closes fast within somite stages 9-10. Subsequently its wide (caudal) portion closes up to a narrow slit, but further closure slows down till full closure is achieved at the 22-somite stage. In comparing rabbit neurulation with that of chick and mouse, the 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 embryo has virtually no curvature during the main phase of neurulation

• 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 and rhombencephalic neuropores close between the stages of 9-11 somites.
• The mesencephalic neuropore is very briefly present.
• The posterior neuropore is the largest and remains longest. Its tapered (cranial) portion closes fast within somite stages 9-10. Subsequently its wide (caudal) portion closes up to a narrow slit, but further closure slows down till full closure is achieved at the 22-somite stage.

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