Studies on Chromosome Karyotype in Vc-Rex Rabbits

Objective To study the chromosome karyotype of the Vc-Ⅰand Vc-ⅡRex rabbits Method The chromosome preparation was made from lymphocytes cultured from peripheral blood and the karyotype was studied by using conventional cytogenetics technique. Results and Conclusion The diploid chromosome number of Vc-Rex rabbit was 2n=44,21pairs of autosomes and one pair of sex chromosomes. The autosomes were divided into 4 groups according to their relative length, arm ratio and centromere index of each chromosome, and the No.1-No.8 of group A were metacentric chromosomes(M); the No.9-No.11 of group B were submetacentric chromosomes(SM); the No.12-No.17 of group C were subtelocentric chromosomes(ST); the No.18-21 were telocentric chromosomes(T). The X chromosome was submetacentric and the Y chromosome was telocentric. The chromosome karyotype of male rabbit was 44,XY. The G-banding patterns were described and there was no significant difference between two strains of Rex rabbit in G-banding patterns.