Mapping of the rex coat trait in the rabbit families.

<p>A whole genome scan performed on 187 rabbits for 47 microsatellites localized the rex phenotype (INRAR) on rabbit chromosome 14 within an interval of 40 cM. Fine mapping refined the localization within a 0.5 cM (⊖ = 0 ; LOD = 78) region flanked by microsatellites INRA051and INRA086.</p

Primers used for RT–PCR.

<p>Primers used for RT–PCR.</p

The rex hair trait in rabbit.

<p>(A) A normal rabbit coat (A1), a rex rabbit with a castor coat (A2) and an <i>orylag</i>® with a castor coat (A3). (B) Cross section of a fibre bundle of a normal rabbit coat (B1), a rex rabbit (B2) and an <i>orylag</i>® (B3). (C) Skin cross section of a hair follicle group of a normal rabbit coat (C1), a rex rabbit (C2) and an <i>orylag</i>® (C3). Arrows indicate the differences in shape and diameters of primary central hair follicles and their hair.</p

LIPH expression in rabbit skin.

<p>LIPH was detected by RT-PCR (ex 7–10) in rabbit skin of 5 common and 5 rex rabbits. The expected product size is 753 pb.</p

The 1362delA mutation in exon 9 of LIPH in rex rabbits.

<p>(A) Electropherograms of the LIPH exon 9 sequence from a normal common type rabbit (WT), a rex and a heterozygous are shown. The red line indicates the location of the mutation. In heterozygous rabbits there is an overlap of both allele sequences (purple box). (B) Deduced alignment of LIPH proteins between rex and normal common type rabbits. (C) C-terminal conservation in mammalians.</p

Mean length (± standard deviation) of outer coat, inner coat, fibre diameter and coarse fibre content (defined as the content of fibres having a fibre diameter larger than 30 µm) in rex and normal G2 rabbit coats.

<p>Mean length (± standard deviation) of outer coat, inner coat, fibre diameter and coarse fibre content (defined as the content of fibres having a fibre diameter larger than 30 µm) in rex and normal G2 rabbit coats.</p

Primers used for genomic amplification.

<p>Primers used for genomic amplification.</p

Lipase activity of wild-type <i>LIPH</i> and 1362delA <i>LIPH</i> mutant constructs.

<p>Values obtained are shown as a percentage of that observed in cells transfected with the empty vector (pcDNA3.1+, control).</p

<i>LIPH</i> expression at three different fetal stages (days 19, 25 and 29) corresponding respectively to the formation of the central primary, lateral primary and secondary hair follicles.

<p>(Bars = 20 µm). (A) Q-PCR expression of <i>LIPH</i> mRNA in the <i>orylag®</i> rabbit skin (light blue bars) and in the normal rabbit skin (dark blue bars). The Y axis represents the relative expression level of <i>LIPH</i>. (B) Histology (ROAN staining) of <i>orylag®</i> (B1) and normal rabbit skins (B2). (C) Immunohistochemistry of <i>orylag®</i> (C1) and normal rabbit skins (C2).</p

Primer pairs used for PCR amplification, qPCR and ISH.

<p>Primer pairs used for PCR amplification, qPCR and ISH.</p