The Effect of Lecithin Supplementation on the Biochemical Profile and Morphological Changes in the Liver of Rats Fed Different Animal Fats

Sixty-four Wistar rats were divided into 8 equal groups and kept for 36 days in individual boxes. Three of the groups were given full synthetic diets containing various animal fats: beef tallow, pork fat or fish oil. A control group was fed the diets without the fat. The other four groups were fed the same diets with lecithin supplementation. At the end of experiment, sections taken from the liver were stained with haematoxylin–eosin and Sudan III to indicate fat infiltration. Liver enzyme levels, total bilirubin, albumin and two products of lipd metabolism were measured in serum from all the animals. The addition of lecithin to the diets did not influence the level of enzymes in the serum except in rats fed the diet containing beef tallow. A relationship between the type of diet, lecithin supplementation and the total cholesterol concentration in serum was observed. The concentration of HDL-cholesterol was only influenced by lecithin supplementation and that of triglycerides by the type of fat in the diet. The addition of lecithin to the diet was associated with proliferation of Kupffer cells, and an increased number of binuclear cells. Fatty degeneration of hepatocytes was less pronounced in all groups following lecithin supplementation. Lecithin supplementation of the diet did not elicit any pathological lesions and may be considered as a hepatocyte protector. This favourable effect of lecithin was most marked in the group of rats fed the fish oil.     

Concentrations of isoflavones and their metabolites in the blood of pregnant and non-pregnant heifers fed soy bean

The present study compared the changes in isoflavones (daidzein and genistein) and their metabolite (equol and para-ethyl-phenol) concentrations in the blood plasma of cyclic and pregnant heifers after feeding with soy bean. Twelve healthy heifers were divided into three groups: cyclic heifers (days 8-12 of the estrous cycle; control group; n=4), an early pregnancy group (2 months pregnant; n=4) and a late pregnancy group (8 months pregnant; n=4). All heifers were fed a single dose of 2.5 kg of soy bean and then blood samples were taken from the jugular vein for 8 h at predetermined intervals. The concentrations of soy bean-derived isoflavones and their active metabolites were measured in the blood plasma on an HPLC system. In the blood plasma of the early- and late-pregnant heifers, we found lower concentrations and time-dependent decreases in daidzein and genistein in comparison to cyclic heifers (P<0.05). Moreover, we noticed significant increases of equol and para-ethyl-phenol in the blood plasma of the early-pregnant heifers (P<0.05). In contrast, in the blood plasma of the late-pregnant heifers, we did not find an increase in the isoflavone metabolite concentrations compared with the early-pregnant heifers (P>0.05). In conclusion, physiological status (cyclicity or pregnancy) of the females influenced the concentrations of isoflavone metabolites in the blood plasma of the heifers. The stage of pregnancy affects isoflavone absorption, biotransformation and metabolism differently and results in higher concentrations of active metabolites of isoflavones during early pregnancy in comparison to their lower concentrations during late pregnancy. Therefore, we surmise that cows are more sensitive to active isoflavone metabolite actions during early pregnancy than cyclic heifers and heifers in late pregnancy.     

Artificial reproduction of wild and cultured barbel (Barbus barbus, Cyprinidae) under controlled conditions

The aim of this work was to compare the effects of controlled reproduction of cultured and wild common barbel, Barbus barbus (L.). Preparations containing different GnRH analogues and dopamine receptor antagonists (Ovopel, Ovaprim) as well as human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) (in the case of cultured fish) were applied and their influence on ovulation, spermiation and quality of gametes obtained was determined. No differences in the qualitative or quantitative parameters of semen were found between fish stimulated with different hormonal preparations and those not receiving hormonal stimulation. The high suitability of Ovaprim for ovulation induction in (cultured and wild) barbel was confirmed. The highest synchronisation of ovulation was obtained after the application of Ovopel (18 ± 3 h), but the best results of controlled reproduction (expressed as the percentage of ovulations and survival of embryos) were obtained by applying Ovaprim (83.2 ± 4.1). A significantly higher percentage of ovulation was obtained in cultured fish (80-90%) than in wild fish (< 25%).     

Identification of new sources of resistance to powdery mildew in oat

Powdery mildew caused by Blumeria graminis DC. f. sp. avenae Em. Marchal. is a deleterious foliar disease of common oat which occurs in many parts of the world. Resistance existing in oat cultivars is broken down by new races of this pathogen and because of this fact there is necessity to look for new and effective sources of resistance to powdery mildew in oat. To identify new potential resistance sources to powdery mildew, a total of 67 oat genotypes from five different species Avena sterilis, A. fatua, A. sativa, A. maroccana and A. murphyi and 20 powdery mildew isolates were investigated for disease reactions. Among tested oat accessions the highest level of resistance was associated with A. maroccana genotypes. Genotypes belonging to species of A. murphi and A. sterilis also showed a good level of resistance. Identified genotypes could be used in oat breeding programmes to improve levels of resistance to powdery mildew.     

Influence of a shrub corridor on movements of passerine birds to a lake littoral zone

A pine forest was separated from a lake littoral zone by a meadow on one area (discontinuous) while these habitats were separated by a shrub strip in another area (continuous). This shrub strip acted as an ecological corridor enhancing the movements of birds between the forest and the littoral reed zone. The number of individuals of non-littoral species that visited the reed zone was higher (p < .001) on the area with the connecting shrub strip in autumn but the number of species visiting the littoral zone was not significantly higher. Significantly more (p < .001) autumn movements by birds in the continuous area were oriented along paths between the forest and the littoral zone whereas movements in the discontinuous area paralleled the littoral and forest zones (p < .001). Movements of birds were concentrated along the edge of the shrub strip. The spatial configuration of the landscape facilitated access by some forest birds to the littoral habitat.     

Obtaining Wisent early blastocyst in vitro is a basic for protection and creation of biodiversity for this threatened species

Wisent, or European bison (Bison bonasus), is listed as “vulnerable” on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species and is therefore protected by international law. For the first time, a Wisent embryo has been obtained in vitro. This procedure creates a new opportunity to protect and increase Wisent reproductive potential and thereby opens new possibilities for the establishment of a controlled and broad reserve of the gene pool.     

Kinetics of the response of four positive acute phase proteins in pigs experimentally infected with toxigenic Pasteurella multocida

In the present study, acute phase proteins (APP) responses in pigs after infection with toxigenic strain of Pasteurella multocida (Pm) were evaluated. Twelve piglets from a herd free from toxigenic Pm were used. Six of them were infected intranasally with Pm. CRP, Hp, SAA and Pig-MAP concentrations were measured using commercial ELISA tests. CRP and Hp were significantly induced from 2 days post inoculation (dpi). The concentration of Hp in inoculated pigs remained elevated until the end of the study. The concentrations of SAA and Pig-MAP increased significantly from 3 dpi, and remained elevated to 5 or 7 dpi, respectively. Strong correlations were observed between concentration of Hp or SAA and changes in the lungs. No correlations were found between levels of APP in serum and changes observed in the turbinates. On the basis of our investigation, we cannot state that evaluation of APP concentrations in serum may provide useful information about severity of atrophic rhinitis. However, the concentration of all investigated APP increased after inoculation. Thus, APP-measurements may reveal ongoing infection. Monitoring of APP concentrations in the pig herds may help to pinpoint infected animals even before clinical signs are present. If found, these "APP-high" animals may be chosen next for pathogen-specific diagnostics. Early diagnosis and therapy may prevent the infection from spreading in the herd. Moreover, monitoring of APP concentrations in serum may be useful for selecting clinically healthy pigs before integration into an uninfected herd. Future studies should focus on the possibility of distinguishing infected and non-infected pigs under field conditions.