Introduction

Question 1

When, where, and for what purpose was one of the initial inbred rabbit colonies developed?

Answer 1

1931, Phipps Institute, TB research

Question 2

Rabbit Order, Family, and number of genera. How many breeds of rabbit?

Answer 2

F: Lagomorpha, F: Leporidae, 8 genera. 127 breeds

Question 3

What aspects of immunology are rabbits used to study? (3) Why are rabbits advantageous for this research? (3)

Answer 3

Structure of immunoglobulins, genetic control of formation of immunoglobulins, production of polyclonal antibodies for use as an immunologic reagents. Large size with relatively large blood volume, easy access to vascular system, large body of information on immunoglobulin purification

Question 4

Which two GALT structures have specialized functions for cell maturation? What cell type?

Answer 4

Vermiform appendix and sacculus rotundus. IgM+ B cells

Question 5

How do rabbits form diverse immunoglobulins? How does this differ from mice and humans?

Answer 5

Rabbits have a limited number of gene segments and use somatic gene conversion or somatic hypermutation to create single nucleotide changes. Mice and humans create primary antibodies via combinatorial rearrangement of a large number of immunoglobulin segments.

Question 6

When are where does immunoglobulin rearrangement happen? What structures/agents play a role in immunoglobulin formation?

Answer 6

Primary antibody creation occurs in fetus and neonatal rabbits in bone marrow. At 4-8 weeks immature IgM+ B cells undergo further diversification in GALT. Certain intestinal bacteria are needed for appendix follicle development and antibody diversification.

Question 7

What antibody do rabbits lack?

Answer 7

IgD

Question 8

Name two hypercholesterolemic rabbits and their characteristics.

Answer 8

Watanabe heritable hyperlipidemic - deficient in LDL receptors in liver and tissues. Coronary artery atherosclerosis w/o aortic atherosclerosis.
St. Thomas Hospital - Normal LDL and hypercholesterolemic.

Question 9

Rabbits are used as models in what two areas of cardiovascular research?

Answer 9

Atherosclerosis, long QT interval.

Question 10

Rabbits can be altered to produce what product in their milk? What are three examples? Is this passed generational?

Answer 10

Human recombinant proteins. Antigen for rotavirus vaccine, human factor VIII, human growth hormone. Can be passed down for generations.

Question 11

Expression of what product in rabbit cells allows for cell tracking?

Answer 11

GLP