The effect of "Ferrodex", vitamin A and "Rovimix beta-carotene" on the iron and copper levels in blood plasma of calves

The effect of Ferrodex, vitamin A and synthetic beta-carotene on the content of iron and copper in the blood serum has been investigated in three groups of calves: I control group without vitamin supplements, II group received only once with the first colostrum dose 1.5 million IU of vitamin A, III group received Rovimix beta carotene containing 10 per cent of the synthetic beta carotene with Mlekomix from the 21st day to the 13th week of life. Moreover half of the calves from each group received Ferrodex intramusculary. Content of iron, total iron binding capacity by serum proteins, level of indirect and direct copper as well as the content of ceruloplasmin were determined in the blood serum of calves. Moreover hematocrit and hemoglobin content in the blood were determined. The results obtained show that a triple intramuscular injection of Ferrodex caused an increase of the level of iron, copper and ceruloplasmin in the blood serum of calves. However, a single administration of vitamin A to the calves or a continuous administration of Rovimix beta-carotene decreased significantly the level of iron and ceruloplasmin copper in blood serum as well as caused a more dynamic ceruloplasmin synthesis with a simultaneous increase in its utilization.     

The effect of energy-rich feed supplements for cows on the health of their calves]

Experiments were carried out with 24 pregnant cows and their calves. The cows were divided in 2 equal groups. One of these received a supplement of animal fat additional to the feed from 4 weeks a. p. to 6 weeks p. p. Apart from clinical examinations following laboratory investigations in the blood were performed: hematological parameters, cholesterol, lipids, free fatty acids, ketone bodies, protein, glucose, bilirubin, transaminases, alkaline phosphatase, Ca, Mg, P, K, Na, Cl. The addition of fat to the feed of cows influenced the energy metabolism of the cows, the body weight of the newborn ones and some hematological parameters (incl. protein) of the calves positively.     

A local pathway for increased testosterone supply from the testis to the epididymis, vas deferens and accessory genital glands of the rat

Radiolabeled testosterone (3H-T) was infused into the testes or left and right mesofuniculus (106 dpm) or injected into a testes (2 x 10(6) dpm). The 3H-T concentration was estimated 15 or 10 min after 3H-T infusion or injection, respectively, in the tissue samples collected from the prostate, seminal vesicles, caput and cauda epididymides, vasa deferentia and the mesofuniculi. The abdominal aorta and posterior vena cava were cannulated, and the posterior part of the body perfused with blood (at blood pressure 70-140 or 260-300 mm Hg in abdominal aorta) was used to study 3H-T transfer from the testes to venous blood and other male genital organs. The concentration of 3H-T found in the accessory genital glands, epididymes and vasa deferentia was affected by blood pressure in the abdominal aorta. The reduced blood pressure and partial blocking of blood supply to the genital organs (after ligation of both testicular arteries or the terminal part of the abdominal aorta) increased the concentration of 3H-T in accessory genital glands, vasa deferentia and epididymes. The removal of the mesofuniculi and vasa deferentia with their mesoducti reduced 3H-T concentration in the prostate, seminal vesicles and cauda epididymides. Both arterial trunks, testicular arteries and common iliac arteries, were shown to be connected by anastomoses in target organs so effectively, that supplying the male genital organs with blood by only one of them assures the transfer of testosterone from the testes to the epididymes, vasa deferentia, mesofuniculi as well as prostate and seminal vesicles. It was concluded that lymphatic vessels of the mesofunicules and of the spermatic cords as well as venous and arterial vasculature of the mesofunicules create a recently unknown pathway for the increase of testosterone supply from the testes to the epididymes, vasa deferentia and accessory genital glands of rats.     

The effect of Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium spp. administration on the morphology of the gastrointestinal tract, liver and pancreas in piglets

The aim of the study was to investigate the influence of administration of probiotic bacteria on morphology of the gastrointestinal tract, liver and pancreas. The experiment was performed on 15 piglets at the age from 3 to 35 days, intragastrically administered with Bifidobacterium breve, B. animalis, and Lactobacillus acidophilus bacteria. In all piglets examined, the development of the gastrointestinal tract, liver and pancreas was observed to progress normally. After microflora administration to the piglets, an increase in the number of fibrocytes and fibroblasts was observed in the mucosa lamina propria of stomach and intestines. An increase was also reported in the number and activation of endocrine cells in the stomach and small intestines. The activity of alkaline and acid phosphatases, as well as succinic (SDH) and lactic (LDH) dehydrogenases, was found to be higher after the administration of probiotics. The administration of bacteria, especially of Lactobacillus acidophilus, caused an increase in the number of lymphocytes and lymphoid cells in lamina propria and intraepithelial lymphocytes in the small intestine. Enhanced proliferation of crypt cells was observed in the crypts of intestinal glands; however, there were no statistically significant differences in the PCNA index between the control and probiotic-administered groups. The performed study showed that the administration of probiotic bacteria has no negative impact on the morphology of the gastrointestinal tract, liver and pancreas and is found beneficial to its functioning and immune processes.     

Über die unterschiedliche Reaktion der Chromosomen des Sproß-und Wurzelmeristems von Gerste gegenüber mutagener Behandlung

Zusammenfassung Nach Einwirkung von Nitrosomethylharnstoff (NMH) auf Gerstenkaryopsen wurden die Prozentsätze geschädigter Zellen mit Chromosomenaberrationen in der mittleren Anaphase bis frühen Telophase für Wurzel- und Sproßmeristem im 1. Mitosezyklus der Keimung ermittelt. Eine geringfügig stärkere Wirkung auf das Wurzelmeristem ist nicht signifikant.Eine Vorbehandlung mit Äthylendiaminotetraessigsäure (ÄDTE) sensibilisierte die Chromosomen gegenüber der radiomimetischen Wirkung von NMH in beiden Meristemen. Der durch ÄDTE verursachte Sensibilisierungseffekt betraf das Wurzelmeristem in signifikant stärkerem Maße als das Sproßmeristem.Unterschiede in der Permeabilität und im Mitoserhythmus zwischen Sproß-und Wurzelmeristem konnten als mögliche Ursachen der beobachteten Differenzen ausgeschlossen werden. Es wird vermutet, daß die ermittelten Differenzen in kausalem Zusammenhang mit stoffwechselphysiologischen Verschiedenheiten zwischen beiden Meristemen stehen.Die Befunde zeigen, daß im Wurzelmeristem ermittelte Chromosomenaberrationsfrequenzen nicht ohne weiteres auf das Sproßmeristem übertragen werden dürfen, wie das vielfach geschieht.

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Summary The percentages of damaged cells with chromosomal bridges or fragments in the middle ana- to early telophase were determined in barley seeds treated with nitrosomethylurea (NU), after various recovery times in the first mitotic cycle, both for shoot and root meristems. A slightly higher effect in the root meristem is not significant.Pretreatment with ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) sensitized the chromosomes against the radiomimetic effects of NU in both meristems. This EDTA-dependent sensitization affected the root meristem to a significantly greater extent than the shoot meristem.Differences in permeability or in duration of mitosis could be excluded as a possible cause for the observed differences. It appears probable that the found differences are caused by specific metabolic features of both meristems.These findings indicate that one cannot infer, as sometimes done, the situation in the shoot meristem directly from the known frequencies of chromosomal aberrations in the root.

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scanning electron microscopy of lingual papillae in the common shrew, Sorex araneus, L

The dorsal surface of the tongue of the adult common shrew (Sorex araneus L.) was examined by scanning electron microscopy. As in the other insectivores, three types of lingual papillae were observed: filiform, fungiform and vallate papillae. The filiform papillae represented the most numerous type of lingual papillae. The characteristic feature of the filiform papillae, covering the apex and corpus of the tongue, is the two processes tilted to the root of the tongue. The filiform papillae on the lingual apex are reduced in size and structure. Five to six fungiform papillae are placed symmetrically along the left and right border of the corpus of the tongue. Two large oval vallate papillae are located on the radix of the tongue. The posterior surface of the tongue in common shrew is covered with a smooth mucosa with the openings of the serous glands.     

Effect of Escherichia coli heat-labile enterotoxin on the myoelectric activity of the duodenum in weaned pigs

The objective of the present study was to elucidate the effect of subclinical doses of Escherichia coli heat-labile enterotoxin (LT) on the antro-duodenal myoelectric activities of weaned pigs. Twelve weaned pigs were surgically implanted with three pairs of electrodes on the antrum 3 cm before the pylorus, 5 and 20 cm after the pylorus on the duodenum, respectively. An infusion cannula was inserted into the duodenum between duodenal electrodes. Using a wireless telemetry recording system, an electromyography (EMG) tracing lasting at least 24 h was recorded as the control, then another 24-h EMG recording was performed with a bolus intraduodenal infusion of LT (0.1 and 0.5 microg/kg b.w.). After a 1- to 2-day break, a 5-fold higher dose of LT was administered using the same protocol. In the antrum, LT administration barely modified the EMG signal. However, in the duodenum it prolonged the duration of phase II and the migrating myoelectric complex (MMC) cycle when compared with the control. The number of duodenal MMC cycles was also significantly diminished. Moreover, the migrating velocity of phase III was increased. The migrating action potential complex (MAPC) was present both without and with LT, but occurred more frequently following LT administration. In conclusion, LT caused a dose-dependent, lagged alteration in the duodenal MMC in weaned pigs, involving a reduction of the MMC number by lengthening phase II, increased phase III migration velocity, and increased MAPC frequency. The disturbances did not, however, result in diarrhoea and may reflect the induction of a local protection mechanism of the gut to expel unwanted foreign content from the lumen of the upper gut.     

Oxidative stress parameters in bitches with mammary gland tumours

The aim of the present study was to describe some of the oxidative stress parameters in bitches suffering from spontaneously occurring mammary gland tumours. The experiment involved 28 bitches which had mammary gland tumours removed surgically (15 bitches with malignant tumour and 13 with benign tumour) as well as 10 clinically healthy bitches. The activities of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were determined in haemolysates of erythrocytes derived from the animals. The concentrations of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), as well as -SH groups, were determined in blood plasma. GSH-Px activity was significantly higher in the malignant tumour group than in healthy animals. SOD activity was significantly higher in animals with tumours compared with the control group. Activities of both enzymes were higher in animals with malignant tumours than in benign groups, but the differences were not statistically significant. The concentrations of TBARS and -SH groups were similar in all examined groups. The increase of antioxidative enzyme activities in these animals may suggest the activation of antioxidative defence mechanisms in mammary gland carcinogenesis. Moreover, it might indicate the participation of oxidative stress in malignancies. Further experiments involving more animals, with more frequent sample collection and the use of other oxidative stress markers are necessary.