title: Effect of rabbit line on a program of cryopreserved embryos by vitrification.
abstract: The aim of this study was to assess the application of a cryopreservation program to preserve two selected rabbit lines. One of them was selected by litter size at weaning, line V (Synthetic breed). The second, line R (synthetic breed), was selected by growth rate. In this study, embryos were collected, from donor does belonging to the 7th and 15th generations of lines R and V, respectively, were vitrified and were stored from 1992-1993. Those embryos from donor does belonging to the 17th and 21st generations of lines R and V respectively, were vitrified and sotred from 1998-1999. Embryo transfers were carried out in 1999. Morphologically normal embryos at the morulae stage were cryopreserved by vitrification in a 2.8 M dimethyl-sulfoxide + 3.5 M ethylene-glycol + 0.3 g x L(-1) bovine serum albumine in Dulbecco phosphate buffered saline solution. The main problem in the cryopreservation program was the low embryo production efficiency: significant differences were obtained in recovery efficiency between lines and line R showed the lowest proportion of donor does with 55% (at least 4 normal embryos) vs. 72% in line V. However, after transfer in recipient does of line V, the fertility rate at birth (81%), the rate of alive born by pregnant recipients (43%) and the number of males and does with offspring (9 to 18 different males, 12 to 32 females) enabled the different generations from each line to be re-established and studies on the selection process genetic gain to be developed.
authors.affiliation: Reproduction Biotechnology Laboratory, Polytechnic University of Valencia, Camino de Vera, 14, 46071 Valencia, Spain. jvicent@dca.upv.es
authors.forename: José Salvador
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Vicente
authors.forename: María Pilar
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Viudes-De-Castro
authors.forename: Maria de la Luz
authors.initials: Mde L
authors.lastname: García
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Baselga
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015925:Cryopreservation / Q000662:veterinary*; D004624:Embryo Transfer / Q000662:veterinary; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D011817:Rabbits / Q000196:embryology* / Q000235:genetics; D013045:Species Specificity