Objective—To determine the effects of UVB radiation produced by artificial lights on serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations in domestic rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculi) Animals—9 juvenile domestic rabbits. Procedures—After an acclimation period, rabbits were anesthetized with isoflurane, and an initial blood sample was collected for determination of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration. Rabbits were randomly assigned to receive 12-hour exposure to UVB radiation produced by 2 compact fluorescent lights daily (n = 5) or no UVB supplementation (4) commencing on day 1. The UVB radiation emitted into the cage was measured at 9 points approximately 34 cm from the surface of the UVB light sources (representing the position of the rabbits in the cage) after 10 hours of exposure on days 1, 8, and 14. On day 14, another blood sample was collected from anesthetized rabbits for determination of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration. Results—The UVB radiation level was 8.3 to 58.1 μW/cm2 for the exposed rabbits and consistently < 0.001 μW/cm2 for the control rabbits. Mean ± SD serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations in the rabbits that were or were not provided supplemental UVB radiation for 14 days differed significantly (66.4 ± 14.3 nmol/L and 31.7 ± 9.9 nmol/L, respectively). Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Exposure to UVB radiation produced by artificial light significantly increased serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration in juvenile rabbits. Because vitamin D is an essential hormone in vertebrates, these findings suggested that the provision of supplemental UVB radiation to captive rabbits may be important.

The study was conducted toknow the anatomy of the brachial plexus ofWhite New Zealand Rabbit (Oryctolaguscuniculus). Ten healthy male and femaleWhite New Zealand rabbits were dissectedin this study. It was found that the brachialplexus of the White New Zealand Rabbitwas formed by ventral branches of C5,C6, C7, C8, T1 and T2 spinal nerves.The cranial trunk was formed by thecaudal branch of C5, C6 and caudal trunkformed by rami ventralis of C7, C8, T1and the cranial branch of ventral ramusof T2. Cranial pectoral nerve originatedfrom the caudal trunk spreading into thepectoral muscles. The musculocutaneousnerve innervates into the brachial muscleand the axillary nerve into the subscapularmuscle. The radial nerve was dividedinto two branches as ramus profundusand ramus superficial then divided intothe digital dorsal common III and IV.The thoracodorsal nerve innervates thelatissimusdorsi muscle. The median nervewas divided into digital dorsal commonI, II, III and IV nerves. The ulnar nerveformed the caudal cutaneous antebrachialthen digital dorsal common IV and Vnerves. Lateral thoracic and caudal pectoralnerves originated from the caudal trunk.The origin and distribution of brachialplexus resemble that of porcupines butdiffer from other mammals.