
doi: 10.5772/32599
The laboratory rat, Rattus norvegicus, was the first mammalian species domesticated for scientific research, which work dating back to before 1850. From this auspicious beginning, the rat has become the most widely studied experimental animal model for biomedical research (Jacob, 1999). Since the development of the first inbred rat strain by King 1909, over 500 inbred rat strains have been developed for a wide range of biochemical and physiological phenotypes and different disease models (Aitman et al., 2008, Canzian. 1997). In the last decade, there has been an extraordinary increase in rat genomic resources (Gibbs et al., 2004, Pennisi. 2004), and the advent of knock-out technology allow the insertion or deletion of individual genes into the rat by advances in stem-cell technology (Geurts et al., 2009, Izsvak et al., 2010, Tong et al., 2010). Thus, a wide array of research opportunities now open up, especially in studies involving the laboratory rat (Hamra. 2010). However, protocol for sperm cryopreservation and oocytes fertilized in vitro by using cryopreserved sperm are still under development for preservation of most rat strains. Therefore, greater use of the cryopreservation of rat sperm may provide an essential resource to preserve and increase the number of valuable genetic strains for research and application.
| selected citations These citations are derived from selected sources. This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | 1 | |
| popularity This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network. | Average | |
| influence This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | Average | |
| impulse This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network. | Average |
