Ultrastructural study of the hypothalamic region after administration of aurothioglucose in mice]

Aurothioglucose dose of 1 mg g-1 1. w. was applied intraperitoneally to experimental female mice. After 24 hours the animals were decapitated and samples for ultrastructural examination were immediately taken from the region of the hypothalamic ventromedial nucleus. The following findings were obtained from the study of 243 electronograms of 8 experimental animals: 1. dense round particles 0.034 to 0.016 mu in size, representing the gold of aurothioglucose; 2. parenchymatous dystrophy of the mitochondria; 3. peeling off of the individual layers of myelin sheath and the granularity of these layers corresponding to the disintegration of nerve fibres.     

Peroral administration of zinc sulfate to pregnant cows and its effect on selected metabolic indicators in the dam-calf lineage

A comparative trial was conducted with the oral administration of zinc sulphate to pregnant cows and heifers aimed at influencing the selected metabolic parameters in the dam-calf line. The total daily ZnSO4.7H2O dose of 3 g (680 mg Zn++) was given to dry standing cows and heifers for 35 days on an average (15-65) before the expected date of calving. The breeding conditions in the stock were problematic: losses of calves suffered in the last half-a-year period were higher than 30% of born calves; the main causes of this high mortality were coli-septicaemia and coli-enteritis. As compared with the eight control animals, the experimental cows and heifers (12 head) exhibited a transient increase in zincaemia, followed by a tendency to proteinaemia; aspartate aminotransferase activity increased, total immunoglobulins remained unchanged, and decreases were recorded in the activities of alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, creatine phosphokinase and aldolase. On the other hand, the concentration of total bilirubin tended to increase. In 77% of the cows and first-calvers of the experimental group the quality of colostrum complied with the standard; in the case of the control animals this proportion was 83%. Significant zincaemia occurred in the calves of the experimental cows between the first and 14th day of their age; no differences from the control calves were recorded in immunoglobulinaemia, proteinaemia, albuminaemia and in the activities of alanine aminotransferase and creatine phosphokinase. On the other hand, aspartate aminotransferase activity tended to grow and alkaline phosphatase activity tended to sink. Neonatal hyperbilirubinaemia disappeared within the first 14 days of age in both the experimental and the control calves. The results failed to show clearly that the intention to increase the values of the studied parameters of immunopoiesis was met.     

Biochemical and hematological changes in sows during estrus]

After the second and fourth parturition of piglets, ten clinically healthy sows, weaned on the second day of life, were subjected to examination two to three days before heat, during heat (defined by typical changes on the outer genitals and immobilization in the presence of a boar) and two days after insemination. During the morning hours, four hours after the last feeding, blood was taken from V. cava cranialis. Seventeen parameters were determined in whole blood and in the blood serum. In the period of oestrus, compared with the period two to three days before this period and two days after insemination, a marked increase was observed in the concentration of the serum levels of 11-hydroxycorticosteroids, iron, and in the activity of alanine aminotransferase. The activity of aspartate aminotransferase was increased in heat only in comparison with the period of the two days after insemination. The concentration of haemaglobin in whole blood was significantly increased in comparison with the period before oestrus and after insemination. Further, in the heat period -- as compared with the time before it -- a considerable drop was observed in the content of inorganic phosphorus and vitamin A. The possible mechanism of the occurrence of other changes is discussed.     

Initial experience with the intravenous administration of colloidal carbon to cattle in relation to the incidence of mastitis

The influence was studied of intravenous application of colloid carbon to ten dairy cows of Bohemian Spotted breed in the seventh to eighth months of gravidity, as exerted on the health condition of mammary glands and on milk yield in the subsequent lactation. The cure consisted of three i. v. installations in 72-hour intervals; one dose contained 150 mg carbon in 20 ml of 20% glucose. No adverse by-effects were observed in the course of application and after it. During the subsequent lactation period (nine months) the test cows exhibited a better health condition of mammary glands if compared with the control group (ten dairy cows). In the test group no case was recorded of the clinical form of mastitis while in the control group one case of acute mastitis and two cases of chronic mastitis occurred. S. agalactiae was not isolated at all in the test group while in the control group it was isolated in two cows. S. aureus was also isolated more times (in 32 cases) in the control cows than in the test ones (in 27 cases). A higher average counts of cells in udder-quarter milk samples were found in the test group only at the onset of lactation (from the third month after calving), the average counts of cells over the whole period under study were however lower in the test group (1 380 000 per ml) than in the control group (1 234 000 per ml). The average daily milk yield per cow in the test group exceeded the average milk production in the control group in the period of study. An increase by 1.630 1 as compared with the untreated cow was observed in the average milk yield. It has been demonstrated by the results that by the intravenous instillation of colloid carbon nonspecific natural defensive mechanisms of dairy cows, mainly leucocytes, are stimulated, which enhanced the cell readiness to react to infectious process (mastitis) and overall injury of the organism (sepsis).     

The characteristics and regulation of glutamate dehydrogenase in strains of Bacteroides ruminicola ssp. ruminicola isolated from the rumen of fallow deer]

Very little information about NH4+ assimilation paths in rumen anaerobic bacteria is available, and the information about wild animals is completely missing. Glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) isolated from the rumen strain B. ruminicola in fallow deer was purified and its properties were specified after crystalline ammonium sulphate precipitation and gel filtration on Sephadex G-200. The properties of partly purified GDH were specified. One of the first specifications concerning GDH from various sources was to determine its coenzyme specificity. The results of these determinations enabled to draw a general conclusion that GDH from non-animal sources was specific to only one coenzyme while GDH from animal sources could utilize the two coenzymes (Frieden, 1964). In our study the specificity of GDH isolated from the rumen strain B. ruminicola in fallow deer to the coenzyme NADH (Tab. I) was determined; this specificity was different from the coenzyme specificity of GDH isolated from the rumen strain B. ruminicola in calves where GDH was found to be specific to the coenzyme NADPH. The effect of increasing concentrations of NADH, 2-oxoglutarate and NH4+ on the enzyme reaction velocity was also investigated and Km was determined for NADH, 2-oxoglutarate and NH4+ (Tab. II). The kinetic properties of GDH isolated from different sources are considerably variable. Michaelis constants for GDH range from 0.003 to 0.125 mmol/dm3 for NADPH (NADH), from 0.95 to 7.4 mmol/dm3 for 2-oxoglutarate, and from 0.25 to 16 mmol/dm3 for NH4+ (Misono et al., 1985). The average value of Km for NH4+ in a mixed rumen population was 33 mmol/dm3 (Erfle et al., 1977).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Changes in selected biochemical indicators in blood serum in anestrous gilts

The biochemical profile [levels of calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, chlorides and iron, the activities of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and the concentrations of total protein, albumin, cholesterol, urea, glucose, and vitamins A and E] was studied in the blood serum of 40 anoestrous and 40 control inseminated animals in a production herd with an increased occurrence of anoestrus in gilts. The anoestrous gilts showed significantly lower levels of albumin (P less than 0.01) and glucose (P less than 0.01) and ALP activity (P less than 0.05), and significantly higher concentrations of urea (P less than 0.01), vitamin A (P less than 0.01) and vitamin E (P less than 0.05) and ALT activity (P less than 0.05), as compared with the inseminated controls. An extended enzymatological examination consisting of the evaluation of the activities of ALP, AST, ALT and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GMT) was performed in another set of 22 anoestrous and 20 mated gilts. The anoestrous gilts showed a statistically significant increase in the activities of AST (P less than 0.01), GMT (P less than 0.01) and ALT (P less than 0.05) and an insignificant increase in the activity of ALP in comparison with the control animals. The comparison of the obtained values of the studied biochemical criteria with literary data indicated a lower concentration of magnesium and a higher ALP and ALT activities in the anoestrous and inseminated gilts in both groups under study. A high acidity of fat and a medium to high fungus infestation (Mucor sp., Aspergillus sp.) were found by chemical and mycological examination of the administered feed mixtures. The histological examination of the ovaries of anoestrous animals showed cystically degenerative changes, proliferations of fibrous elements, and partial atrophy of ovarial cortex. It has been inferred from the observations that mycotoxins may be involved in the increase in the occurrence of anoestrus, either by a direct effect on sexual organs or by impairing the function of liver which, secondarily contributes to the rise of ovarial dysfunctions.     

Determination of the inhibitory effect of a biologically active preparation on the reproduction of micro-organisms from the intestines of ruminants

A procedure for the production of biologically active substances from pine and spruce needles was worked out within the research project Utilization of Tree Verdure. The product was referred to as a biologically active preparation. The fields of its possible uses include agriculture (animal production-feeding), cosmetics (production of pastes, soaps, etc.), pharmaceutical industry (after additional conditioning the product can be used for manufacturing medicinal drugs for the control of inflammatory diseases and the like). The biologically active preparation, i. e. the pine needle extract, was studied as to its effect on some of the most numerous microorganisms in the intestines of ruminants. As found, this preparation has a partial inhibitive action on the growth and reproduction of microorganisms. The biologically active preparation is an extract isolated from the needles by means of 0.3% sodium hydroxide. Besides extractive substances it also contains the residues of organellae of cellular nature (which got into the extract through the filter during the process of preparation) and a small amount of fibre (0.33%). The chemical composition of the biologically active preparation is varied: until now about 220 substances, many of which are biologically active, have been found to be present in the product.     

The effect of Rumensin on the metabolic profile of rumen fluid in feedlot cattle

The effects were studied of sodium monensinate dosed 125 mg on the metabolic profile of rumen fluid. The experiment was conducted under current farming conditions in a pavilion cattle fattening house. The experiment, which lasted 367 days, comprised 985 bulls of the Bohemian Spotted breed. The feed ration was based on silage with an additive of dried poultry litter and concentrates. The additive was administered in concentrate mixture, 125 mg per head/day. After the start of the experiment want of appetite to sodium monensinate was observed. The animals took approximately four weeks to adapt completely to the additive. The following characteristics were investigated to study the metabolic profile of rumen fluid: actual acidity, total titration acidity, ammonia, total nitrogen, lactic acid, total volatile fatty acids, per cent acetic acid, per cent propionic acid, molar ratio acetic acid: propionic acid, per cent iso- and n-butyric acid, absolute number of infusoria and energy net yield of volatile fatty acids. Increased levels of the clinico-biochemical parameters of the metabolic profile of rumen fluid were found in lactic acid, propionic acid and energy net yield of volatile fatty acids. The per cent of propionic acid increased at some samplings by up to 116%. A drop was recorded in total nitrogen, per cent acetic acid, per cent butyric acid, molar ratio C2 : C3 and total number of infusoria. The decrease in the per cent of acetic acid ranged around 16% and the drop in butyric acid level amounted at some samplings up to 78%. No response to the additive was observed in the other characteristics of the metabolic profile of rumen fluid.     

Rapid diagnosis of Aujeszky's disease in pigs by improved in situ hybridization using biotinylated probes on paraffin-embedded tissue sections

A practical in situ hybridization (ISH) method has been developed for the rapid diagnosis of pseudorabies virus (PRV) infection in pigs. The method utilizes routine formalin fixed and paraffin-embedded tissue sections, non radioactive biotin-labelling, simple hybridization procedure and diaminobenzidine (DAB) silver enhancement detection system. The rapid (ISH) method showed concordance with the direct filter hybridization (DFH) and with the peroxidase-antiperoxidase (PAP) assays. By the simplified ISH, diagnosis can be made within two days.