Abstract
Simple SummaryTranscriptomic 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.
Highlights
Ovulation rate and prenatal survival are the main components of litter size in rabbits and pigs.Selection by ovulation rate was proposed, expecting a more efficient improvement in litter size than direct selection
Ovulation rate has been increased with success in the only selection experiment by ovulation rate developed in rabbits
In only one selection experiment on ovulation rate performed in rabbits, an increase of approximately two ova were obtained; there was no success in improving litter size
Summary
Ovulation rate and prenatal survival are the main components of litter size in rabbits and pigs. Selection by ovulation rate was proposed, expecting a more efficient improvement in litter size than direct selection. Ovulation rate has been increased with success in the only selection experiment by ovulation rate developed in rabbits. Litter size was not improved mainly due to a decrease of 12% in prenatal survival [1,2,3]. Several authors have proposed that a part of the reduction of prenatal survival in females with high ovulation rate could be due to a lower oocyte quality [8,9]. Follicular size, follicular maturity, and specific hormone and protein concentrations in the follicular fluid are related to the oocyte quality, which is required to restart meiosis, fertilization, and early embryo development [10]
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