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Redalyc.HOW CAN RABBIT RESEARCH in the LABORATORY Tropical and Subtropical Agroecosystems E-ISSN: 1870-0462 [email protected] Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán México González-Mariscal, Gabriela HOW CAN RABBIT RESEARCH IN THE LABORATORY CONTRIBUTE TO CUNICULTURE ON THE FARM? Tropical and Subtropical Agroecosystems, vol. 15, núm. 1, 2012, pp. S71-S78 Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán Mérida, Yucatán, México Available in: http://www.redalyc.org/articulo.oa?id=93924484006 How to cite Complete issue Scientific Information System More information about this article Network of Scientific Journals from Latin America, the Caribbean, Spain and Portugal Journal's homepage in redalyc.org Non-profit academic project, developed under the open access initiative Tropical and Subtropical Agroecosystems, 15 (2012) SUP 1: S71 – S78 REVIEW [REVISIÓN] HOW CAN RABBIT RESEARCH IN THE LABORATORY CONTRIBUTE TO CUNICULTURE ON THE FARM? [¿CÓMO PUEDE LA INVESTIGACIÓN SOBRE CONEJOS, REALIZADA EN EL LABORATORIO, CONTRIBUIR A LA CUNICULTURA EN LA GRANJA?] Gabriela González-Mariscal Centro de Investigación en Reproducción Animal, CINVESTAV-Universidad Autónoma de Tlaxcala, Apdo. Postal 62, Tlaxcala Tlax 90000, México. Tel: 52-248- 48-16020; Fax: 52-248-48-15476 E-mail: [email protected] * Corresponding author SUMMARY RESUMEN Rabbit research coming from the laboratory can have a La investigación sobre el conejo, generada en el profound impact on Cuniculture, performed on the laboratorio, puede tener un impacto profundo sobre la farm, and vice versa. This bi-directional Cunicultura, realizada en la granja. Esta comunicación communication is scarce at present but, by finding bi-direccional es escasa actualmente pero, issues of common interest, an effective interaction identificando tópicos de interés común, puede between these two niches can be promoted. I will promoverse una interacción efectiva entre estos dos present five examples from Reproductive nichos. Se presentarán cinco ejemplos, derivados de la Neuroendocrinology where I have identified evidence Neuroendocrinología Reproductiva, en los que se tiene that research in one niche has had (or can have) an evidencia de que la investigación en un nicho ha impact on the other one, specifically: 1) distinguishing tenido ( o puede tener) un impacto en el otro, between pregnancy and pseudopregnancy; 2) específicamente: 1) distinguir entre gestación y preventing death of kits due to deterioration of the pseudogestación; 2) prevenir la muerte de gazapos maternal nest and/or loss of maternal behavior; 3) debida al deterioro del nido y/o la pérdida del facilitating the management of groups of does mated comportamiento materno; 3) facilitar el manejo de according to the “biostimulation” method; 4) grupos de conejas apareadas conforme al método de increasing the success of the “biostimulation” method; “bioestimulación”; 4) incrementar el éxito del método 5) improving the welfare of rabbits housed in the de bioestimulación; 5) mejorar el bienestar de los laboratory and on the farm. Promoting conejos alojados en el laboratorio y en la granja. communication between “the lab and the farm” will Promover la comunicación entre estos dos ámbitos lead to new ways of exploring key scientific questions llevará a nuevas maneras de explorar preguntas and to better management practices on the farm. científicas importantes y, a la vez, mejorará el manejo del conejo en la granja. Keywords: rabbit; pregnancy; lactation; pseudopregnancy; mating; cuniculture; animal welfare. Palabras clave: conejo; gestación; lactancia; pseudogestación; apareamiento; cunicultura; bienestar animal. INTRODUCTION that constitute the niches of scientists working in the laboratory (“basic” research) or on the farm Rabbits have been studied for many years in the (agronomic research). Usually, scientists from one laboratory and on the farm. Their physiology (e.g., niche read the publications, attend the meetings, and digestion, reproduction), disease susceptibility (to interact with the colleagues from their own area and pathogens or toxic substances), behavior (aggressive, are unaware that similar research lines are being social, reproductive), or use (of their meat and fur) pursued by investigators from “the other” niche. This have been the subject of numerous investigations division is, of course, impoverishing to science as the published in journals specialized in the corresponding strategies used in the laboratory and on the farm are field or devoted specifically to rabbit research. Sadly, complementary to each other; the models used in each this rich information has been separated into two areas field can reveal new ways of approaching the same S71 González-Mariscal, 2012 scientific question. As emphasized in earlier effectiveness of the “palpation” method depends on publications (González-Mariscal and Roselli, 2007; the experience of the person performing the procedure. González-Mariscal et al., 2007) it is necessary to We found in our laboratory that the frequency of a promote a larger interaction between “the lab and the particular form of scent-marking, consisting of the farm”. Thus, it is the objective of this article to rubbing of the rabbit’s chin on any solid object in the present specific examples that illustrate how these two environment (“chinning”), is directly related with the fields can converge and interact effectively to improve degree of sexual receptivity of a doe (González- rabbit production and to generate new scientific Mariscal et al., 1990). Thus, unmated females kept knowledge. under a long photoperiod and given adequate nutrition are sexually receptive (Edey and Casida, 1972) and WHAT ISSUES OF COMMON INTEREST TO show a high frequency of chinning (González- REPRODUCTIVE NEUROENDOCRINOLOGY Mariscal et al., 1990). Pregnant does, by contrast, are AND CUNICULTURE HAVE WE IDENTIFIED? not sexually receptive and show low chinning frequencies. What about pseudo-pregnant rabbits? Before attempting to bring together two fields that are Interestingly, their chin-marking activity is related but operate independently one needs to identify indistinguishable from that of truly pregnant does but common interests. It is necessary to find out if a given only during the first 14 days post-mating. From then scientific question is relevant to both areas and if it is onwards chinning frequency increases steadily in (or has been) investigated by researchers working in pseudopregnant animals, to reach levels characteristic the laboratory or on the farm. In the following of estrous does (Figure 1; González-Mariscal et al, sections five specific topics will be presented that meet 1990). Thus, monitoring chinning frequency for about these criteria; the main findings and missing ten days (starting at around 8-10 days post-copula) can information identified in each one will be described. be a reliable, inexpensive, and simple method for determining if a mated female is truly pregnant. Distinguishing between pregnancy and pseudopregnancy. 25 Rabbit does are induced ovulators, i.e., they ovulate only in response to copulation (Ramírez and Beyer, 20 1988). Although, theoretically, this would “ensure” pregnant that all mated does became pregnant and gave birth to 15 pseudo-pregnant young in reality a variable proportion of such rabbits min /10 enter a peculiar endocrine state known as pseudopregnancy. This is characterized by an marks 10 endocrine profile similar to the one of rabbits in early chin chin pregnancy, i.e., high levels of progesterone (P) in 5 blood, produced by the corpus luteum (Erskine, 1999). This ovarian structure, however, has a shorter life span 0 in pseudopregnant (14 days) than in pregnant (around 1 5 9 13 17 21 25 29 30 days) does. As a consequence P levels drop in the D a y s p o s t – m a t i n g former about two weeks earlier than in the latter (Niswender and Nett, 1994) and pseudopregnant does Figure 1. Chin-marking (chinning) frequency does not -of course- do not produce a litter. The mechanisms significantly differ between pregnant and underlying the occurrence of pseudopregnancy –rather pseudopregnant rabbits for the first 14 days post- than pregnancy- following mating in rabbits have been mating. From then onwards, chinning frequency little explored. However, it is known that increases steadily only in pseudopregnant females vaginocervical stimulation received during mating (modified from: González-Mariscal et al, 1990). reaches the central nervous system to promote surges of prolactin that maintain the corpus luteum (Erskine, Preventing death of kits due to deterioration of 1999). For the “lab scientist” the occurrence of maternal nest and/or loss of maternal behavior. pseudopregnancy is a fascinating research area in Reproductive Neuroendocrinology; for the Some mammals that give birth to a single offspring professional trying to breed tens to hundreds of rabbits (like sheep and goats) nurse only their own young - in the farm pseudopregnancy entails an important which they identify largely by smell- and refuse to financial loss. Experienced rabbit producers can allow suckling from other lambs or kids, respectively. distinguish between pregnant and pseudopregnant does This is called exclusive nursing (for review see: by palpating their ventrum at around 14-20 days post- González-Mariscal and Poindron, 2002). By contrast, copula. However, this method can give false negatives mammals that deliver a litter (such as sows, rats, and if pregnant does are carrying few embryos and the bitches) can nurse even young that are not their own. S72 Tropical and Subtropical Agroecosystems,
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