Spontaneous Hyperplasia of the Endometrium in the rabbit

Abstract

Only limited studies have been performed to analyse the causes of a decline in fertility with age of rabbits. Adams (1970) presented an overview of aging and reproduction in the female mammal and the rabbit in particular. In laboratory rabbits reproductive performance stops at 16 – 52 monthes (Adams, 1960). The number of ovulations as well as the implantation rates reveal only minor variation; there is a relatively constant level of prenatal mortality in the first three pregnancies and an increasing level of prenatal mortality in later pregnancies. By the eleventh pregnancy the number of foetusus surviving to term was significantly reduced. Rabbits can live for many more years after reproductive performance has come to an end.