Pregnancy and Nursing Management for Embryo-Transferred and Genetically Modified Rabbits

Summary

This protocol describes a pregnancy and feeding management technique for embryo-transferred and genetically modified rabbits, aimed at reducing newborn rabbit mortality and enhancing the preparation efficiency of gene-edited rabbits.

Abstract

With the advancement of scientific research, the demand for gene-edited rabbit models is increasing. However, there are limited pregnancy and feeding management systems for gene-edited rabbits, leading to low survival rates among gene-edited rabbits prepared by many inexperienced researchers. Therefore, proper guidance is essential. This article summarizes the pregnancy and feeding practices for genetically modified rabbits developed in the author's laboratory and outlines a set of fundamental processes. These include pregnancy diagnosis, antenatal care, midwifery, assisted breastfeeding, weaning, and other procedures, along with the rescue and care of weak newborn rabbits. Compared to the traditional natural childbirth and nurturing methods used in rabbit farms, this approach involves more refined management, requiring additional time and effort but significantly increasing the survival rate of suckling rabbits. The methods described in this article are suitable for most laboratory breeding scenarios involving gene-edited or embryo-transferred rabbits and provide a straightforward and effective reference for other researchers.

Introduction

Rabbits are a classic animal model for biomedical research and are increasingly becoming the preferred translational model to bridge the gap between rodent models and large animal models^1,2. Compared with large animals, rabbits have moderate body size, small feeding space, low feeding cost, and convenient blood collection, which are conducive to repeated collection of research data and surgical operations. Rabbits are characterized by good reproductive ability, a short gestation period (28-32 days for New Zealand white rabbits), a large number of births, and fast growth^3,

Protocol

All experimental protocols were approved by the Ethics Committee for Animal Experiments of the Guangdong Medical Laboratory Animal Center. The ethical review number for the MKRN3 gene-modified rabbit breeding involved in this study is B202210-6. The study adheres to procedures in compliance with ethical standards outlined in the Helsinki Declaration of 1975 (revised 1983). The New Zealand rabbits used in this study were obtained from the Guangdong Medical Laboratory Animal Center in China. The pregnancy and feeding proce.......

Discussion

The main steps in the pregnancy and nursing management of embryo-transferred and genetically modified rabbits include midwifery and early assisted breastfeeding. Difficult childbirth is a common issue in rabbits¹⁹. Prolonged delivery times often result in fetal ischemia, hypoxia, and death²⁵. The appropriate use of oxytocin can effectively shorten delivery times and reduce instances of fetal dystocia²⁶. Many primiparous mother rabbits fail to pluck h.......

Materials

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
Artificial down cotton	Yangzhou Anguang Textile Co., Ltd, China	5490-Jinyu
Cloprostenol Sodium Injection	Shanghai Quanyu Biotechnology (Zhumadian) Animal Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd, China	163232207
Corncob granules	Guangdong Provincial Medical Laboratory Animal Center, China	YUMIXIN
Electronic platform scale	Yongkang Runjin weighing instrument Co., Ltd, China	rj-09
Gentamicin	Shanxi Jinfukang Biological Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd, China	041531504
Glucose injection	Henan Kelun Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd, China	H41022251
Incubator	Foshan Chancheng Hualong Plastic Factory, China	AAA-2	For newborn rabbits
Incubator box	Hebei mabao wire mesh products Co., Ltd., China	https://qr.1688.com/s/AJ1K7O3p	As a nest for the mother rabbits
Inslin Syringe	Becton,Dickinson and Company, USA	Ultra-Fine,328421
Oxytocin injection	Guangzhou Baiyunshan Mingxing Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd	H44025245
Penicillin injection	Guangdong Kangtaiyuan Animal Husbandry Co., Ltd, China	300012430
Rabbit delivery cage	Suzhou Suhang Technology Equipment Co., Ltd., Suzhou, China	RB42-8G
Towel	Zhejiang Jieliya Co., Ltd, China	W3290