Scientists at Belgorod State University (BSU), together with industrial partners, have developed unique transgenic rabbits that can produce valuable substances for medicine. These rabbits have essentially become bioreactors capable of producing materials for surgery, cosmetics and even neuroprotectors useful in treating diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.
The director of the BelSU Joint Genetic Technologies Center, Alexey Deikin, told a press conference in the Rossiya Segodnya media group that their center is the first of its kind in Russia. Rabbits are an excellent model for studying human diseases because they are larger than mice and their model is closer to the human body, Daykin explained. Such experiments, he said, help to avoid many of the disadvantages that arise when using small laboratory animals.
Geneticist Vladimir Chuev from the Vladmiva experimental facility noted that transgenic rabbits now provide not only fur and meat, but also medical supplies. In particular, osteoplastic materials for dentistry are created from their bones, which are used to restore bone tissue after tooth extraction. The bones of these rabbits are ideal for such purposes due to their biocompatibility and strength. In addition, stem cells are obtained from the spinal cord of rabbits, which are used in regenerative medicine and cosmetology. Even the milk of these animals contains human heat shock protein, which is promising for the treatment of neurological diseases.
Source: Ferra
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