Physiology and modulation factors of ovulation in rabbit reproduction management

Rabbit is an induced ovulatory species, so ovulation takes place after mating. Traditionally, exogenous and synthetic hormonal factors (administered by intramuscular and intravaginal route) such as GnRH and analogues, or different physical procedures (i.e. stimulation by intravaginal cannula) have been used to induce ovulation in females when artificial insemination is applied in rabbit farms. Restriction and public rejection of the use of hormones is leading to the study of the seminal plasma components with potential action on ovulation induction. The aim of the present review is to collect and summarise the strategies used in recent years to trigger ovulation and improve rabbit fertility management with respect to more animal-friendly manipulation methods. Furthermore, special attention has been paid to the use of a semen component (as endogen molecule) such as beta nerve growth factor (β-NGF) in male and female rabbit reproductive physiology. This neurotrophin and its receptors (TrKA and p75NTR) are abundantly distributed in both male and female rabbit reproductive tracts, and it seems to have an important physiological role in sperm maturation and behaviour (velocity, apoptosis and capacitation), as well as a modulatory factor of ovulation. Endogen β-NGF is diluted in the seminal doses with the extenders; hence it could be considered an innovative and alternative strategy to avoid the current exogenous (by intramuscular route) and stressful hormonal treatments used in ovulation induction. Their addition in seminal dose could be more physiological and improve animal welfare in rabbit farms.

Isolation and Characterization of Female Rabbit Periosteal Derived Progenitor Cells

Background Periosteum is a specialized highly vascularized connective tissue that is formed of an external fibrous layer containing collagen fibers and micro vessels and an inner cambium layer that facing the bone. Cambium layer includes periosteum derived progenitor cells (PDPCs) which have osteochondrogenic potential both in vitro and in vivo and act as major players in bone development and fracture healing. Periosteum derived progenitor cells display properties of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), including clonogenicity, phenotypic marker expression, and ability to differentiate into osteoblasts, chondrocytes and adipocytes. So, they are recognized to be essential for the initiation of bone graft healing and remodeling, but their clinical application is still limited due to inaccessibility. The aim of the present study is isolation, culture and characterization of rabbit’s PDPCs. Methods twenty-five adult female rabbits were used to harvest periosteal samples. Cell cultures were obtained by migration of cells from periosteal fragments (explant culture). Immunostaining of the cells of PDPCs in subculture (third passage) was performed. Result On day three of primary culture, the PDPCs were not started to migrate from the periosteal explant edges. However, on day six of primary culture, few spindle PDPCs cells appeared at the edge of explant. on day 20 of primary culture, PDPCs were mostly confluent ( about 9095%) . Immunostaining of PDPCs in subculture (third passage) showed positive brownish reaction of the branched cells for CD105 and CD44 and negative immune reaction for both CD34 and CD45. Conclusion The current study yielded isolation and cultured of female rabbit Periosteal derived progenitor cells. Periosteal derived stem cells are display properties of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), including clonogenicity, phenotypic marker expression.

DIGESTIBILITY ON LOCAL FEMALE RABBIT FED DIETS CONTAINING DIFFERENT LEVELS OF FERMENTED TOFU WASTE

This study aims to determine the digestibility of local female rabbit fed diet containing different levels offermented tofu waste. The study used a randomized block design (RBD), with five treatments and five blocks.The treatment was rabbits fed rations without using tofu waste or control fed (R0), rabbit fed rations containing10% tofu waste (R1), rabbit fed containing 15% tofu waste (R2), rabbit fed rations containing 10% fermented tofuwaste (R3) and rabbit fed rations containing 15% fermented tofu waste (R4). Variables observed were dry matterdigestibility, protein digestibility and efficiency of changes GE to DE. The results showed that rabbits fed ration R3and R4 caused dry matter digestibility, protein digestibility and efficiency of changes GE to DE were higher thantreatments R2, R1 and R0. It can be concluded that diets containing 10% up to 15% fermented tofu waste in rabbitrations can increase the digestibility of rations for local female rabbits.

Torsión uterina e hidrometra unilateral en una coneja (Oryctolagus cuniculus) de compañía

Descripción del caso. Coneja de compañía (Oryctolagus cuniculus) de cinco años de edad, de raza palomino, nulípara, que dejó de comer y beber gradualmente, y estaba apática.Hallazgos clínicos. Tenía el abdomen notablemente distendido, con peloteo y dolor a la palpación, estaba deshidratada y deprimida. El hemograma y la bioquímica sanguínea indicaron anemia severa altamente regenerativa normocrómica, hiperazotemia prerrenal, hipoproteinemia e hipoalbuminemia. En el ultrasonido y estudio radiográfico, se observó que el útero estaba muy dilatado con abundante líquido, lo que sugería hidrometra, o bien, hemometra.Tratamiento y evolución. Durante su hospitalización fue medicada con enrofloxacina, tramadol y meloxicam. Al realizar la ovariohisterectomía, se observó que el cuerno uterino derecho estaba torcido por completo con abundante líquido sanguinolento. Se diagnosticó torsión uterina e hidrometra unilateral derecha. La coneja murió un día después de la cirugía.Pruebas de laboratorio. En el examen histológico, el endometrio estaba muy hemorrágico y necrosado con pérdida de la mucosa y de las glándulas endometriales, con marcada congestión y edema en todas las capas uterinas. El diagnóstico histopatológico del útero fue emitido como hemorragia y necrosis endometrial grave, difusa y edema transmural grave difuso.Relevancia clínica. Las enfermedades del tracto reproductor en conejas de edad avanzada y no esterilizadas como el adenocarcinoma uterino y la hiperplasia endometrial son comunes. Estas patologías pueden acompañarse de hidrometra y hemometra afectando a ambos cuernos uterinos. El hallazgo relevante en este caso es que la torsión y la hidrometra de un solo cuerno uterino se presentaron juntas, quizá estaban relacionadas, lo que se ha documentado poco. Las patologías uterinas en conejas se pueden prevenir con ovariohisterectomía a edad temprana. Cuando una coneja presenta distención abdominal, además de considerar patologías uterinas como en este caso, se debe descartar enfermedad cardiaca, renal o alguna neoplasia abdominal. Abstract Case description. A five years old, palomino breed, nulliparous, pet female rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus), which gradually stop eating and drinking and was apathetic.Clinical findings and interpretation. Physical examination revealed prominent abdominal distention, pain and puddle sing on abdominal palpation and depression. Hematological and chemistry values revealed severe strongly regenerative normochromic anemia, prerenal azotemia, hypoproteinemia, and hypoalbuminemia. The ultrasound and radiographic study revealed that the uterus was extremely dilated with abundant fluid suggesting hydrometra or hemometra.Treatment and evolution. The rabbit during her hospitalization was treated with enrofloxacin, tramadol and meloxicam. At ovariohysterectomy, it was observed that the right uterine horn was completely twisted and approximately 800 mL of bloody fluid were collected from inside it. Unilateral uterine torsion and hydrometra were diagnosed. The rabbit died one day after surgery.Laboratory tests. Histologically, the endometrium was severely hemorrhagic and necrotic with loss of the uterine epithelium and endometrial glands, in addition there was marked congestion and edema in all the uterine layers. The histopathological diagnosis of the uterus was emitted as severe diffuse hemorrhage and necrosis endometrial and severe diffuse transmural edema.Clinical relevance. Reproductive tract diseases in unsterilized mature age rabbits such as uterine adenocarcinoma and endometrial hyperplasia are common. These abnormalities can be accompanied by hydrometra and hemometra affecting both uterine horns. As a relevant finding in this case is that the torsion and hydrometra of a single uterine horn were presented together and there may be a relationship between them which has been slight referenced. Uterine pathologies in rabbits can be prevented by performing ovariohysterectomy in young animals. When a female rabbit presents abdominal distention, in addition to considering uterine abnormalities as in this case, heart or kidney disease or some abdominal neoplasm should be included in the differential diagnosis.Keywords: uterus, pseudopregnancy, surgery, lagomorph, pathology.