Effective generation of genetically modified rabbits by sperm mediated gene transfer.

Abstract

Many reports in the past decade showing successful sperm mediated gene transfer (SMGT) offoreign DNA into both non-mammalian and mammalian animals. Fresh collected, extender washed rabbit spermcells were co-cultured with linear 14.3 kb gene construct and used for AI. Transgene integration in rabbitgenome was verified by PCR analysis. The PCR results show that transgenic founder rabbits transmittedtransgene to F1 generation. Our preliminary results suggest that SMGT could be an effective method forproduction of genetically modified rabbits.