Reprod. Nutr. Dev. 43 (2003) 137-143
DOI: 10.1051/rnd:2003011

Effect of rabbit line on a program of cryopreserved embryos by vitrification

José Salvador Vicente^a, María Pilar Viudes-De-Castro^b, María de la Luz García^b and Manuel Baselga<sup>a

a</sup>  Reproduction Biotechnology Laboratory, Polytechnic University of Valencia, Camino de Vera, 14, 46071 Valencia, Spain
^b  Animal Production Division, EPSO, Miguel Hernández University, Carretera de Beniel, 03312 Orihuela (Alicante), Spain

(Received 16 October 2002; accepted 23 January 2003)

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 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.

Key words: cryopreservation / embryo / line / rabbit

Correspondence and reprints: José Salvador Vicente email: jvicent@dca.upv.es

© INRA, EDP Sciences 2003