The preterm rabbit: a model for the study of acute and chronic effects of premature birth.

The fetal rabbit delivered by caesarean section 0 to 5 days before term (32 days) can serve as a reliable animal model to study the short- and long-term consequences of premature birth. More than 80% of the fetal rabbits delivered at day 28 of gestation will survive 24 h if anesthetics are avoided during delivery and measures designed to meet the metabolic demands of extrauterine life are met. Sixty percent will survive up to and beyond the 7th day postpartum if the preterm pups are kept in a temperature and humidity controlled environment and are fed rabbit milk. Theoretical and practical advantages of this animal model are discussed.