Chromosome analysis of domestic rabbit

In the present study, 25 samples of New Zealand White rabbits were undertaken for standardization of laboratory technique for display of metaphase chromosomes. Lymphocyte culture technique was followed by using foetal calf serum and two media, RPMI1640 and TC 199 + l-glutamine. The diploid chromosome complement of the domestic rabbit studied, as 2n = 44. There were 21 pairs of autosomes, out of which 1 to 6 were metacentric, 7 to 11 submetacentric, 12 to 17 subtelocentric and 18 to 21 acrocentric. The X chromosome was the third largest submetacentric chromosome and Y chromosome was the smallest submetacentric chromosome. No chromosomal abnormality was encountered in all the animals studied under present investigation.