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Updated: Jul 5, 2025
Intranasal Immunization and Milk Collection in Studies of Maternal Immunization in New Zealand White Rabbits Oryctolagus cuniculus
Published on: July 31, 2021
Association between blood hormones and fecundity in rabbit does
Alexander V Sirotkin1, Jan Rafay2
1Constantine the Philosopher University, Tr. A. Hlinku 1, Nitra 949 74, Slovakia; Research Institute for Animal Production, NAFC Nitra, Slovakia.
Abstract:
The aim of the present study was to examine the association between blood hormone level and fecundity in rabbit does. The ovulation of nulliparous New Zealand White rabbits was induced by administration of PMSG and LH-RH analogue. Next day, the does were inseminated, blood was collected and the plasma levels of IGFI, leptin, progesterone and estradiol were measured by radioimmunoassay. After the birth of pups, the retrospective comparison of level of hormones in the blood of fertile and non-fertile animals was performed. Fertile does had significantly higher blood level of IGF-I and lower concentration of leptin than the infertile ones. No significant differences in blood progesterone and estradiol level was found between fertile and non-fertile females. These observations suggest that blood IGF-I and leptin level could be useful for diagnostics and prediction of rabbit does' fecundity.
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