Live Rabbit Embryo Culture: Figure 1.

Abstract

INTRODUCTIONThis protocol outlines methods for culturing rabbit embryos. Such cultures can be used to study the impact of micromanipulation, transplantation, and the influence of signaling molecules on embryonic development. They can be performed on whole blastocysts submerged in culture medium (suspension culture) or on explanted parts of the embryo spread out on a semisolid agarose support (flat or ring culture). Cultures can be adapted to many desired growth conditions by varying the parameters, but culture length is limited to ~24 h because longer incubation times lead either to bursting of the blastocyst and subsequent rolling up of the embryonic disc or to inadequate growth, resulting in deformed embryos.