Relationship between Prenatal Characteristics and Body Condition and Endocrine Profile in Rabbits

[EN] Litter size is an essential trait in rabbit production, and it depends on ovulation rate and embryonic and foetal survival. The period between 8 and 18 d of gestation is critical for foetal survival, as the placenta controls foetal nutrition during this period. Ovulation rate and foetal survival at 12 d of gestation are affected by body condition and metabolic and hormonal profile. Higher foetal survival is related to a higher number of vessels arriving at the implantation site, and may be due to higher available space for the foetus. This study evaluated the relationship between prenatal characteristics and body condition and endocrine profile. A total of 25 non-lactating multiparous females were used. Body condition, measured as body weight and perirenal fat thickness, non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), leptin, progesterone and 17 beta-estradiol were recorded at mating and 12 d of gestation. Ovulation rate, number of foetuses, ovary and foetal weight, length and weight of uterine horn, available space per foetus and maternal and foetal placental morphometry were recorded at 12 d of gestation. Ovulation rate showed a positive linear relationship with number of foetuses, ovary weight and NEFA. A negative linear relationship between ovulation rate and perirenal fat thickness and leptin was obtained. Ovulation rate was maximum when body weight and 17 beta-estradiol were 4.4 kg and 22.7 pg/mL, respectively. Foetal weight showed a positive relationship with perirenal fat thickness and a negative relationship with leptin. An increase in progesterone and NEFA concentration was related to a positive linear increase in number of foetuses and in uterine horn weight. Space available per foetus was affected both by the number of vessels that reach the implantation site and by position of the foetus in the uterine horn. In conclusion, body condition during mating and early gestation should be maintained within an optimal range to ensure the best prenatal characteristics. While 17 beta-estradiol, NEFA and leptin affected the ovulation rate, progesterone and NEFA affected foetal development. The number of vessels that reach the implantation site determines early foetal survival.This research was funded by Generalitat Valenciana, grant number GVPRE/2008/145.García, M.; Muelas, R.; Argente, M.; Peiró Barber, RM. (2021). Relationship between Prenatal Characteristics and Body Condition and Endocrine Profile in Rabbits. Animals. 11(1):1-13. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11010095S11311

Correlated Response on Growth Traits and Their Variabilities to Selection for Ovulation Rate in Rabbits Using Genetic Trends and a Cryopreserved Control Population

[EN] Simple Summary A successful response was obtained after selection for ovulation rate during 10 generations in rabbits. However, no correlated response in litter size was observed due to an increase in prenatal mortality. This increase could be due to the reduction in fetus weights and/or an increase in variable asynchrony among fetus weights. Therefore, the consequences of the selection procedure on weight at 28 and 63 days old (weaning and commercial time, respectively) and its variability are unknown. Using genetic trends and a cryopreserved control population for estimating correlated responses to selection, no relevant response on weight at 28 and 63 days old was observed. Similar results have been obtained for the variability of growth traits. The aim of this work was to estimate correlated responses in growth traits and their variabilities in an experiment of selection for ovulation rate during 10 generations in rabbits. Individual weight at 28 days old (IW28, kg) and at 63 days old (IW63, kg) was analyzed, as well as individual growth rate (IGR = IW63 - IW28, kg). The variability of each growth trait was calculated as the absolute value of the difference between the individual value and the mean value of their litter. Data were analyzed using Bayesian methodology. The estimated heritabilities of IW28, IW63 and IGR were low, whereas negligible heritabilities were obtained for growth variability traits. The common litter effect was high for all growth traits, around 30% of the phenotypic variance, whereas low maternal effect for all growth traits was obtained. Low genetic correlations between ovulation rate and growth traits were found, and also between ovulation rate and the variability of growth traits. Therefore, genetic trends methods did not show correlated responses in growth traits. A similar result was also obtained using a cryopreserved control population.This research was funded by Comision Interministerial de Ciencia y Tecnologia, grant number PID2020-115558GB-C21, and by Generalitat Valenciana research program (Prometeo 2009/125). Celia Quirino was supported by a fellowship of the CoordenacAo de Aperfeicoamento de Pessoal de Nivel Superior-Brasil (CAPES)-Finance Code 001.Peiró Barber, RM.; Quirino, C.; Blasco Mateu, A.; Santacreu, M. (2021). Correlated Response on Growth Traits and Their Variabilities to Selection for Ovulation Rate in Rabbits Using Genetic Trends and a Cryopreserved Control Population. Animals. 11(9):1-13. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11092591S11311

A set of PCR-based markers for management of a library of Solanum lycopersicoides introgression lines

[EN] A collection of introgression lines (ILs) of Solanum lycopersicoides Dunal in the genetic background of cultivated tomato (S. lycopersicum L.) is a valuable tool for tomato breeding. Efficient management of the collection requires the use of molecular markers. The objective of this work was to identify polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based markers that were polymorphic between the parents of the ILs, namely ‘VF36’ and ‘LA2951’. In total, 81 primer pairs were tested on genomic DNA from both parents. Genomic DNA of the inter-specific hybrid between the two parents, from which the IL collection had been derived, was also tested. The markers used were either cleaved amplified polymorphic sequence (CAPS) markers or were derived from a set of conserved orthologous genes. In both cases, the markers had been mapped in tomato and described in the SOL Genomics Network. Forty-seven of the markers tested produced a single PCR product in ‘VF36’ and ‘LA2951’. Eleven markers revealed polymorphisms as differences in band-sizes between the two parents. At least one restriction enzyme that generated polymorphism was identified in 29 of the remaining 36 markers. Among other applications, some of these markers have been used to identify plants carrying a target DNA fragment among segregating generations, or to delimit the length of an introgressed sequenceThis research was financed by the Ministerio de Educacion y Ciencia and Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovacion, Madrid, Spain (Projects Nos. AGL2008-05114 and AGL2011-30083).Peiró Barber, RM.; Díez Niclós, MJTDJ.; Pérez De Castro, AM. (2015). A set of PCR-based markers for management of a library of Solanum lycopersicoides introgression lines. The Journal of Horticultural Science and Biotechnology. 90(3):279-284. https://doi.org/10.1080/14620316.2015.11513183S279284903Díez, M. J. and Nuez, F. (2008). Tomato. In:Handbook of Plant Breeding. (Prohens, J. and Nuez F., Eds.). Springer, New York, NY, USA, 249–323.Pérez-De-Castro, A., Díez, M. J. and Nuez, F. (2011). Evaluation of a subset ofSolanum lycopersicoidesintrogression lines for resistance to Tomato yellow leaf curl disease. In:Proceedings of the XVII Eucarpia Meeting Group - Tomato. Málaga, Spain. 17.Soler, S., Belmonte, I., Aramburu, J., Galipienso, L., López, C., Sifres, A., Pérez-De-Castro, A. and Díez, M. J. (2012). Identificación de una fuente de tolerancia al ToMV en una colección de líneas de introgresión derivada deSolanum lycopersicoidesLA2951. In:Proceedings of the XVI Congreso de la Sociedad Española de Fitopatología, Málaga, Spain. 221

Drought tolerance assessment of melon germplasm searching for adaptation to climate change

[EN] Shortage of irrigation water at critical melon growth stages can be the most important limiting factor in the future due to climate change, especially in the Mediterranean region. Apart from the improvement of irrigation systems and crop management, the development of drought tolerant cultivars by genetic breeding is the best solution to achieve stable yields. Screening germplasm collections is a prerequisite for that. A melon core collection was evaluated in the current work in two assays. Seven morphological traits were assessed at plantlet stage and compared under drought and standard conditions imposed. Significant differences for all traits were recorded among the sixty accessions evaluated. Clustering analysis also grouped the accessions according to their response to drought, detecting some landraces and wild types of interest, mainly of Indian and African origin, although the best behavior under drought was found in a flexuosus melon from Irak. Some Spanish inodorus landraces also showed better response than the average behavior of commercial types. The employment of this set of traits has allowed screening a large germplasm collection in an easy and non-expensive way, in one of the most sensitive developmental stages.The authors thank the Erasmus mundus team, WELCOME project, Third Cohort, for offering funds for the research and scholarship activities. Also, they thank the Conselleria d'Educació, Investigació, Cultura i Esport (Generalitat Valenciana) for funding the project Prometeo (2017/078).Elsayed, H.; Peiró Barber, RM.; Picó Sirvent, MB.; Esteras Gómez, C. (2019). Drought tolerance assessment of melon germplasm searching for adaptation to climate change. African Journal of Agricultural Research. 14(27):1180-1196. https://doi.org/10.5897/AJAR2018.13807S11801196142

Ovarian transcriptomic analysis reveals differential expression genes associated with cell death process after selection for ovulation rate in rabbits

[EN] Transcriptomic analysis showed nineteen potential biomarkers in ovarian tissue from females belonged to a rabbit line selected for ovulation rate for 10 generations and the control line. These females differed not only in ovulation rate but also in prenatal survival since similar litter size were observed. Litter size is an essential trait in rabbit meat production but with low heritability. A selection experiment for ovulation rate has been performed for 10 generations to improve litter size in rabbits. The selected line increased two ova more than the control line but nevertheless a negative correlation was observed with prenatal survival. A transcriptomic study was performed, using microarrays, in ovarian tissue from females belonging to the selected line and the control line. Our results showed 1357 differential expressed genes and nineteen potential biomarkers associated with prenatal mortality, which could explain differences between litter size in rabbits. Cell death was the most relevant process.This research was supported by MEC (AGL2014-55921-C2-1-P) and Generalitat Valenciana (Prometeo 2009/125).Serna-García, M.; Peiró Barber, RM.; Serna, E.; Santacreu Jerez, MA. (2020). Ovarian transcriptomic analysis reveals differential expression genes associated with cell death process after selection for ovulation rate in rabbits. Animals. 10(10):1-11. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10101924S1111010Laborda, P., Mocé, M. L., Blasco, A., & Santacreu, M. A. (2012). Selection for ovulation rate in rabbits: Genetic parameters and correlated responses on survival rates1. Journal of Animal Science, 90(2), 439-446. doi:10.2527/jas.2011-4219Laborda, P., Mocé, M. L., Santacreu, M. A., & Blasco, A. (2011). Selection for ovulation rate in rabbits: Genetic parameters, direct response, and correlated response on litter size1. Journal of Animal Science, 89(10), 2981-2987. doi:10.2527/jas.2011-3906Laborda, P., Santacreu, M. A., Blasco, A., & Mocé, M. L. (2012). 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Correlated responses on litter size traits and survival traits after two-stage selection for ovulation rate and litter size in rabbits

[EN] Farmer profit depends on the number of slaughter rabbits. The improvement of litter size (LS) at birth by two-stage selection for ovulation rate (OR) and LS could modify survival rate from birth to slaughter. This study was aiming to estimate direct and correlated response on LS traits and peri- and postnatal survival traits in the OR_LS rabbit line selected first only for OR (first period) and then for OR and LS using independent culling levels (second period). The studied traits were OR, LS measured as number of total born, number of kits born alive (NBA) and dead (NBD), and number of kits at weaning (NW) and young rabbits at slaughter (NS). Prenatal survival (LS/OR) and survival at birth (NBA/LS), at weaning (NW/NBA) and at slaughter (NS/NW) were also studied. Data were analysed using Bayesian inference methods. Heritability for LS traits were low, 0.07 for NBA, NW and NS. Survival traits had low values of heritability 0.07, 0.03 and 0.03 for NBA/LS, NW/NBA and NS/NW, respectively. After six generations of selection by OR (first period), a small increase in NBD and a slight decrease in NBA/LS were found. However, no correlated responses on NW/NBA and NS/NW were observed. After 11 generations of two-stage selection for OR and LS (second period), correlated responses on NBA, NW and NS were 0.12, 0.12 and 0.11 kits per generation, respectively, whereas no substantial modifications on NBA/LS, NW/NBA and NS/NW were found. In conclusion, two-stage selection improves the number of young rabbits at slaughter without modifying survival from birth to slaughter.This study was supported by the Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad (AGL2014-55921-C2-1-P) and by funds from Generalitat Valenciana research programme (Prometeo 2009/125). A.Y.B. was supported by a grant of the Egyptian Ministry of Higher Education.Badawy Elmoghazy, AY.; Peiró Barber, RM.; Blasco Mateu, A.; Santacreu Jerez, MA. (2019). Correlated responses on litter size traits and survival traits after two-stage selection for ovulation rate and litter size in rabbits. Animal. 13(3):453-459. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1751731118002033S453459133Ziadi, C., Mocé, M. L., Laborda, P., Blasco, A., & Santacreu, M. A. (2013). Genetic selection for ovulation rate and litter size in rabbits: Estimation of genetic parameters and direct and correlated responses1. Journal of Animal Science, 91(7), 3113-3120. doi:10.2527/jas.2012-6043Su, G., Lund, M. S., & Sorensen, D. (2007). Selection for litter size at day five to improve litter size at weaning and piglet survival rate1. Journal of Animal Science, 85(6), 1385-1392. doi:10.2527/jas.2006-631Ruíz-Flores, A., & Johnson, R. K. (2001). Direct and correlated responses to two-stage selection for ovulation rate and number of fully formed pigs at birth in swine. Journal of Animal Science, 79(9), 2286. doi:10.2527/2001.7992286xRosendo, A., Druet, T., Gogué, J., Canario, L., & Bidanel, J. P. (2007). Correlated responses for litter traits to six generations of selection for ovulation rate or prenatal survival in French Large White pigs. Journal of Animal Science, 85(7), 1615-1624. doi:10.2527/jas.2006-690Ragab, M., & Baselga, M. (2011). A comparison of reproductive traits of four maternal lines of rabbits selected for litter size at weaning and founded on different criteria. Livestock Science, 136(2-3), 201-206. doi:10.1016/j.livsci.2010.09.009Nielsen, B., Su, G., Lund, M. S., & Madsen, P. (2013). Selection for increased number of piglets at d 5 after farrowing has increased litter size and reduced piglet mortality1. Journal of Animal Science, 91(6), 2575-2582. doi:10.2527/jas.2012-5990Lents, C. A., Cushman, R. A., & Freking, B. A. (2014). Measures of the ovaries and uterus during development of gilts selected for differences in uterine capacity1,2. Journal of Animal Science, 92(6), 2433-2439. doi:10.2527/jas.2013-7205Legarra A , Varona L and López de Maturana E. 2008. Program TM. Retrieved on 6 September 2017 from http://snp.toulouse.inra. fr/~alegarra/Lamberson, W. R., Johnson, R. K., Zimmerman, D. R., & Long, T. E. (1991). Direct responses to selection for increased litter size, decreased age at puberty, or random selection following selection for ovulation rate in swine. Journal of Animal Science, 69(8), 3129. doi:10.2527/1991.6983129xLaborda, P., Mocé, M. L., Santacreu, M. A., & Blasco, A. (2011). Selection for ovulation rate in rabbits: Genetic parameters, direct response, and correlated response on litter size1. Journal of Animal Science, 89(10), 2981-2987. doi:10.2527/jas.2011-3906Kapell, D. N. R. G., Ashworth, C. J., Knap, P. W., & Roehe, R. (2011). Genetic parameters for piglet survival, litter size and birth weight or its variation within litter in sire and dam lines using Bayesian analysis. Livestock Science, 135(2-3), 215-224. doi:10.1016/j.livsci.2010.07.005Johnson, R. K., Nielsen, M. K., & Casey, D. S. (1999). Responses in ovulation rate, embryonal survival, and litter traits in swine to 14 generations of selection to increase litter size. Journal of Animal Science, 77(3), 541. doi:10.2527/1999.773541xBlasco, A. (2017). Bayesian Data Analysis for Animal Scientists. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-54274-4Argente, M. J., Santacreu, M. A., Climent, A., & Blasco, A. (2006). Influence of available uterine space per fetus on fetal development and prenatal survival in rabbits selected for uterine capacity. Livestock Science, 102(1-2), 83-91. doi:10.1016/j.livprodsci.2005.11.022Laborda, P., Santacreu, M. A., Blasco, A., & Mocé, M. L. (2012). Selection for ovulation rate in rabbits: Direct and correlated responses estimated with a cryopreserved control population1. Journal of Animal Science, 90(10), 3392-3397. doi:10.2527/jas.2011-4837Arango, J., Misztal, I., Tsuruta, S., Culbertson, M., & Herring, W. (2005). Threshold-linear estimation of genetic parameters for farrowing mortality, litter size, and test performance of Large White sows. Journal of Animal Science, 83(3), 499-506. doi:10.2527/2005.833499xPeiró, R., Herrler, A., Santacreu, M. A., Merchán, M., Argente, M. J., García, M. L., … Blasco, A. (2010). Expression of progesterone receptor related to the polymorphism in the PGR gene in the rabbit reproductive tract1. Journal of Animal Science, 88(2), 421-427. doi:10.2527/jas.2009-1955Cartuche, L., Pascual, M., Gómez, E. A., & Blasco, A. (2014). Economic weights in rabbit meat production. World Rabbit Science, 22(3), 165. doi:10.4995/wrs.2014.1747Putz, A. M., Tiezzi, F., Maltecca, C., Gray, K. A., & Knauer, M. T. (2015). Variance component estimates for alternative litter size traits in swine. Journal of Animal Science, 93(11), 5153-5163. doi:10.2527/jas.2015-9416Cunningham, P. J., England, M. E., Young, L. D., & Zimmerman, D. R. (1979). Selection for Ovulation Rate in Swine: Correlated Response in Litter Size and Weight. Journal of Animal Science, 48(3), 509-516. doi:10.2527/jas1979.483509xGarcı́a, M. L., & Baselga, M. (2002). Estimation of genetic response to selection in litter size of rabbits using a cryopreserved control population. Livestock Production Science, 74(1), 45-53. doi:10.1016/s0301-6226(01)00280-9Damgaard, L. H., Rydhmer, L., Løvendahl, P., & Grandinson, K. (2003). Genetic parameters for within-litter variation in piglet birth weight and change in within-litter variation during suckling1. Journal of Animal Science, 81(3), 604-610. doi:10.2527/2003.813604xSantacreu, M. A., Mocé, M. L., Climent, A., & Blasco, A. (2005). Divergent selection for uterine capacity in rabbits. II. Correlated response in litter size and its components estimated with a cryopreserved control population1. Journal of Animal Science, 83(10), 2303-2307. doi:10.2527/2005.83102303xBennett, G. L., & Leymaster, K. A. (1989). Integration of Ovulation Rate, Potential Embryonic Viability and Uterine Capacity into a Model of Litter Size in Swine. Journal of Animal Science, 67(5), 1230. doi:10.2527/jas1989.6751230

How to interpret the students' multiple-choice test results

[ES] El Espacio Europeo de Educación Superior (EEES) es un área de la organización educativa iniciada con la Declaración de Bolonia, fomentando la evaluación del proceso de aprendizaje de los estudiantes. Esta evaluación ha de ser continua, formativa, variada, justa, conocida y exitosa. La prueba final, tanto oral como escrita, ha sido utilizada generalmente no sólo en la metodología tradicional de la enseñanza universitaria, sino también en el EEES. La prueba final se considera un buen complemento a la evaluación continua que permite evaluar el conocimiento de la asignatura. La prueba objetiva es una de las pruebas utilizadas para evaluar a los estudiantes. A pesar de que la corrección es completamente objetiva, la formulación de las preguntas y la nota mínima necesaria para superar la prueba son decisiones subjetivas de los profesores. Fruticultura es una asignatura optativa, de 6 ECTS, ubicada en el cuarto año de Ingeniería agrónoma de la Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingenieros Agrónomos de la Universitat Politècnica de València. En este trabajo se analizan las pruebas objetivas realizadas en dicha asignatura. Concretamente, se analizan un total de 40 preguntas de opción múltiple a partir de las respuestas de 50 alumnos correspondientes al curso académico 2011/2012. Todas las preguntas de opción múltiple tienen cuatro opciones de respuesta siendo sólo una la correcta. Todas las preguntas tienen la misma ponderación, y la puntuación bruta se calcula para cada sección en función del número de preguntas que el estudiante contesta correctamente (1) o incorrectamente (0). Este trabajo realiza un análisis descriptivo de cada una de las preguntas de opción múltiple, así como los coeficientes de dificultad, la discriminación y la fiabilidad, para evaluar la calidad de las preguntas formuladas en las preguntas objetivas. Los diferentes resultados se obtuvieron en función de la sección. Las secciones teóricas obtienen un mayor porcentaje de respuestas correctas que las secciones prácticas / aplicativas. Los coeficientes de prueba estimados estuvieron dentro del rango de los coeficientes aceptables para evaluar el rendimiento académico. El objetivo de este estudio es evaluar la calidad de las preguntas objetivas tipo test utilizados como parte de la evaluación con el fin de mejorar su calidad, si es necesario, y para obtener información acerca de los aciertos y errores de los alumnos.Peiró Barber, RM.; Guijarro, E.; Verdeguer Sancho, MM.; Reig Valor, C. (2013). How to interpret the students' multiple-choice test results. En New changes in technology and innovation : INNODOCT'13 : International Conference on Innovation, Documentation and Teaching Technologies, held on-line in Valencia, Spain, on 6-7 May, 2013. https://riunet.upv.es/handle/10251/30843. Universidad Politécnica de Valencia. 183-188. http://hdl.handle.net/10251/82182S18318

The effect of unilateral ovariectomy on early embryonic survival and embryo development in rabbits

[EN] Unilateral ovariectomy can be used to study uterine capacity in rabbits because an overcrowding of the functional uterine horn is produced. Due to the uterus duplex, the rabbit is the ideal model for such studies. However, this technique may affect embryo survival. The aim of this work is to study the effect of unilateral ovariectomy on early embryo survival and development in rabbit. A total of 101 unilateral ovariectomised females and 52 intact females were compared after slaughter at 30 h post-mating. Early embryo survival was estimated as the ratio between number of embryo recovered and ovulation rate. No differences were found between intact and unilaterally ovariectomised females in this trait. Unilateral ovariectomy did not change embryo development, measured as the number of embryo cells. Variability of embryo development was not affected either. At 30 h post-mating, the majority of embryos (86.2%) were 4-cell stage. Embryo quality was evaluated according to morphological criteria. No difference in embryo quality between intact and unilaterally ovariectomised females was found. Therefore, unilateral ovariectomy performed before puberty in rabbit does not modify early embryo survival and development.This experiment was supported by the Interministerial Commission for Science and Technology (AGL2005-07624-C03-01 and AGL2008-05514-C02-01).Peiró Barber, RM.; Gallego, M.; Blasco Mateu, A.; Santacreu Jerez, MA. (2014). The effect of unilateral ovariectomy on early embryonic survival and embryo development in rabbits. World Rabbit Science. 22(2):123-127. https://doi.org/10.4995/wrs.2014.2105SWORD12312722

¿Son las encuestas de evaluación del profesorado válidas para las nuevas metodologías de enseñanza?

[ES] La creación del Espacio Europeo de Educación Superior (EEES) ha traído consigo muchos cambios en el proceso de enseñanza-aprendizaje. Se ha pasado de un sistema basado en el profesor, en “enseñar” a un proceso centrado en el estudiante, en “aprender”. Esta nueva orientación del sistema educativo ha supuesto modificaciones en la evaluación de los alumnos. El proceso de evaluación es continuo, se trata de valorar el trabajo y el progreso continuado del estudiante, más que de someterle a una única prueba en la que deba demostrar sus conocimientos. Se evalúan las competencias adquiridas. Del mismo modo en que se han modificado los métodos de evaluación del alumnado, se han adaptado los procesos de evaluación del profesorado al nuevo EEES, ya que uno de sus principales objetivos es garantizar la calidad de la enseñanza. Sin embargo, las encuestas de opinión del alumnado siguen siendo un elemento clave para la evaluación de la labor docente del profesorado universitario. En el presente artículo se plantea una reflexión sobre la objetividad y validez de dichas encuestas para evaluar a los profesores que han adoptado las nuevas metodologías de enseñanza aprendizaje, tomando como modelo la encuesta de opinión de alumnado de la Universitat Politècnica de València.Verdeguer Sancho, MM.; Reig Valor, C.; Peiró Barber, RM.; Guijarro, E. (2013). ¿Son las encuestas de evaluación del profesorado válidas para las nuevas metodologías de enseñanza?. En New changes in technology and innovation : INNODOCT'13 : International Conference on Innovation, Documentation and Teaching Technologies, held on-line in Valencia, Spain, on 6-7 May, 2013. https://riunet.upv.es/handle/10251/30843. Universidad Politécnica de Valencia. 174-182. http://hdl.handle.net/10251/82181S17418

Effect of divergent selection for uterine capacity on embryonic survival and development at 30 h post-mating in unilaterally ovariectomized rabbit females

[EN] Uterine capacity has been proposed as an indirect way to increase litter size. The aim of this work is to study the effect of a divergent selection for uterine capacity (UC) on reproductive traits at 30 h post mating in unilaterally ovariectomized (ULO) females. A total of 62 ULO females from the high line (selected to increase UC) and 39 ULO females from the low line (selected to decrease UC) were used. Ovulation rate was estimated as the number of corpora haemorrhagica and early embryonic survival was estimated as the ratio between number of embryos and ovulation rate. No differences in ovulation rate and early embryonic survival at 30 h post mating were found between high and low lines. Selection for UC did not change the embryonic stage of development either, the majority of embryos being at 4-cell stage. Additionally, the embryos were evaluated according to morphological criteria and more than 95% of the embryos were evaluated as good or fair quality. No differences in embryonic morphological criteria between high and low lines were found either. Thus, selection for UC did not modify the early embryonic survival and development in ULO females at 30 h post mating.This experiment was supported by the Comision Interministerial de Ciencia y Tecnologia (AGL2005-07624-C03-01 and AGL2008-05514-C02-01).Peiró Barber, RM.; Gallego, M.; Blasco Mateu, A.; Santacreu Jerez, MA. (2015). Effect of divergent selection for uterine capacity on embryonic survival and development at 30 h post-mating in unilaterally ovariectomized rabbit females. World Rabbit Science. 23(4):241-215. https://doi.org/10.4995/wrs.2015.3592SWORD24121523