Editing Rabbit (section)

===Reproduction===
[[File:Male rabbit reproduction system.png|thumb|Diagram of the male rabbit reproductive system with main components labeled]]
The adult male reproductive system forms the same as most mammals with the seminiferous tubular compartment containing the [[Sertoli cell]]s and an adluminal compartment that contains the [[Leydig cell]]s.<ref name="Foote 2000">{{Cite journal|last1=Foote|first1=Robert H|last2=Carney|first2=Edward W|year=2000|title=The rabbit as a model for reproductive and developmental toxicity studies|journal=Reproductive Toxicology|volume=14|issue=6|pages=477–493|doi=10.1016/s0890-6238(00)00101-5|pmid=11099874|bibcode=2000RepTx..14..477F |issn=0890-6238}}</ref> The Leydig cells produce [[testosterone]], which maintains libido<ref name="Foote 2000" /> and creates secondary sex characteristics such as the [[genital tubercle]] and [[penis]]. The Sertoli cells triggers the production of [[Anti-Müllerian hormone|Anti-Müllerian duct hormone]], which absorbs the Müllerian duct. In an adult male rabbit, the [[Penile sheath|sheath of the penis]] is cylinder-like and can be extruded as early as two months of age.<ref name="LafeberVet repro basics">{{cite web|last=Pollock |first=C.|url=https://lafeber.com/vet/rabbit-reproduction-basics/|title=Rabbit Reproduction Basics|date=2014-05-05|website=LafeberVet|language=en-US|access-date=2024-09-18}}</ref> The scrotal sacs lay lateral to the penis and contain [[Epididymis|epididymal]] fat pads which protect the testes. Between 10 and 14 weeks, the testes descend and are able to retract into the pelvic cavity to thermoregulate.<ref name="LafeberVet repro basics" /> Furthermore, the secondary sex characteristics, such as the testes, are complex and secrete many compounds. These compounds include [[fructose]], [[citric acid]], minerals, and a uniquely high amount of [[catalase]],<ref name="Foote 2000" /> all of which affect the characteristics of rabbit semen; for instance, citric acid is positively correlated with [[Agglutination (biology)|agglutination]],<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Holtz |first1=W. |last2=Foote |first2=R. H. |date=1978-03-01 |title=Composition of Rabbit Semen and the Origin of Several Constituents |url=https://academic.oup.com/biolreprod/article/2767506/Composition |journal=Biology of Reproduction |language=en |volume=18 |issue=2 |pages=286–292 |doi=10.1095/biolreprod18.2.286 |pmid=630026 |issn=0006-3363}}</ref> and high amounts of catalase protect against premature [[capacitation]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Foote |first1=Robert H. |last2=Hare |first2=Elizabeth |date=2000-09-10 |title=High Catalase Content of Rabbit Semen Appears to be Inherited |url=https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/j.1939-4640.2000.tb02134.x |journal=Journal of Andrology |language=en |volume=21 |issue=5 |pages=664–668 |doi=10.1002/j.1939-4640.2000.tb02134.x |pmid=10975413 |issn=0196-3635}}</ref>

[[File:Female repro system labelled.JPG|thumb|Diagram of the female rabbit reproductive system with main components labeled]]
The adult female reproductive tract is [[Bipartite uterus|bipartite]], which prevents an embryo from translocating between uteri.<ref>{{Cite book|date=1974|title=The Biology of the Laboratory Rabbit|doi=10.1016/c2013-0-11681-9|isbn=978-0-12-742150-6|last1=Weisbroth|first1=Steven H.|last2=Flatt|first2=Ronald E.|last3=Kraus|first3=Alan L.}}</ref> The female [[urethra]] and vagina open into a [[urogenital sinus]] with a single [[urogenital opening]].<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Lukefahr |first1=Steven D. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uhBuEAAAQBAJ&dq=%22Urogenital+opening%22&pg=PA169 |title=Rabbit Production, 10th Edition |last2=McNitt |first2=James I. |last3=Cheeke |first3=Peter R. |last4=Patton |first4=Nephi M. |date=2022-04-29 |publisher=CABI |isbn=978-1-78924-978-1 |language=en}}</ref> The two uterine horns communicate to two cervixes and forms one [[vaginal canal]]. Along with being bipartite, the female rabbit does not go through an [[Estrous cycle|estrus cycle]], which causes mating [[induced ovulation (animals)|induced ovulation]].<ref name="LafeberVet repro basics" />

The average female rabbit becomes sexually mature at three to eight months of age and can conceive at any time of the year for the duration of her life. Egg and sperm production can begin to decline after three years,<ref name="Foote 2000" /> with some species such as those in genus ''Oryctolagus'' completely stopping reproduction at 6 years of age.{{sfn|Nowak|1999|page=1730}} During mating, the male rabbit will insert his penis into the female from behind, make rapid pelvic thrusts until [[ejaculation]], and throw himself backward off the female. [[Copulation (zoology)|Copulation]] lasts only 20–40 seconds.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://florida4h.org/projects/rabbits/MarketRabbits/Activity8_Mating4.html|title=Understanding the Mating Process for Breeding Rabbits|website=florida4h.org|access-date=2019-04-12}}</ref>

The rabbit [[gestation]] period is short and ranges from 27 to 30 days.<ref name=":9" /> A longer gestation period will generally yield a smaller litter while shorter gestation periods will give birth to a larger litter. The size of a single litter can range from 1 to 12 kits, depending on species.{{sfn|Nowak|1999|pages=1720-1732}} After birth, the only role of males is to protect the young from other rabbits, and the mother will leave the young in the nest most of the day, returning to nurse them once every 24 hours.<ref name=":9" /> The female can become pregnant again as early as the next day.<ref name="LafeberVet repro basics" />

After mating, the doe will begin to dig a burrow or prepare a nest before giving birth. Between three days and a few hours before giving birth another series of hormonal changes will cause her to prepare the nest structure. The doe will first gather grass for a structure, and an elevation in [[prolactin]] shortly before birth will cause her fur to shed that the doe will then use to line the nest, providing insulation for the newborn kits.<ref name="stress">{{cite journal |last1=Benedek |first1=I |last2=Altbӓcker |first2=V |last3=Molnár |first3=T |date=2021 |title=Stress reactivity near birth affects nest building timing and offspring number and survival in the European rabbit (''Oryctolagus cuniculus''). |journal=PLOS ONE |volume=16 |issue=1 |pages=e0246258 |bibcode=2021PLoSO..1646258B |doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0246258 |pmc=7845978 |pmid=33513198 |doi-access=free}}</ref>

The mortality rates of embryos are high in rabbits and can be due to infection, trauma, poor nutrition and environmental stress. A high fertility rate is necessary to counter this.<ref name="LafeberVet repro basics" /> More than half of rabbit pregnancies are aborted, causing embryos to be resorbed into the mother's body;{{sfn|Nowak|1999|page=1730}} vitamin deficiencies are a major cause of abortions in domestic rabbits.{{sfn|Varga|2013|pages=34-38}}