The effect of administration of vitamin E on levels of serum immunoglobulins and levels of phagocytic activity]

The effect of peroral administration and parenteral implantation of vitamin E was followed as exerted on the concentration of total serum immunoglobulins and phagocytic activity of blood leucocytes in calves. Twelve calves at the age of maximally 14 days with the average live weight of 41.2 kg were included in an experiment with peroral administration; six of them were given Combinal E (Tocoferolum aceticum 40 mg in 1 ml) at a dose of 20 mg tocopherol acetate per kg live weight. Sixteen calves at the age of three months and with the average live weight of 112.6 kg were included in the second trial. The Erevit preparation was implanted intramuscularly to eight calves at the same dose as in the first experiment (Tocoferolum aceticum 300 mg in 1 ml solutions oleosae). The animals of control groups in both experiments were administered sunflower oil as a placebo, namely at the same amount as the above-mentioned preparations (no oil treatment for peroral administration, heat and pressure treatments of oil for intramuscular implantation). All the preparations lead to a significant increase in vitamin E concentrations in the blood plasma of calves in both experiments, the highest average level being recorded in 24 hours after administration (8.05, and/or 5.51 mumol/l; Tabs. I and IV). The level of total serum immunoglobulins was not influenced by vitamin E supplementation; this level remained below the physiological range of values in calves with peroral administration during the whole time of observation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Effect of body condition score and reuse of progesterone‐releasing intravaginal devices on conception rate following timed artificial insemination in Nelore cows

This study had the aim of investigating the efficiency of timed artificial insemination (TAI) through the progesterone‐releasing intravaginal device (PRID), used in new condition and for the second and third times in Nelore cows. The effects of device reuse and body condition score (BCS) on the conception rate (CR) were evaluated in 1,122 multiparous Nelore cows (mean BCS of 2.7 ± 0.4), which were randomly distributed into three groups that received new (n = 330), once (n = 439) and twice used (n = 353) PRID. Among the 1,122 females that underwent TAI, 573 became pregnant, thus representing an overall CR of 51.06%. Cows with BCS between 2.75 and 4.0 had greater (p < .0001) CR (69.75%) than cows with BSC of 2.0–2.5 (32.98%). It was observed that the CR through using PRID was 60.00%, 51.71% and 41.93% for new, once and twice used PRID, respectively, with difference between all groups (p < .0001). Under tropical conditions, animals with BCS greater than 2.5 had a higher CR, and the CR decreased proportionally with the number of times that the PRID had been used.     

Variable very-high-energy gamma-ray emission from the microquasar LS I +61 303

Microquasars are binary star systems with relativistic radio-emitting jets. They are potential sources of cosmic rays and can be used to elucidate the physics of relativistic jets. We report the detection of variable gamma-ray emission above 100 gigaelectron volts from the microquasar LS I 61 + 303. Six orbital cycles were recorded. Several detections occur at a similar orbital phase, which suggests that the emission is periodic. The strongest gamma-ray emission is not observed when the two stars are closest to one another, implying a strong orbital modulation of the emission or absorption processes.     

Effect of Daily Food Supplementation with Essential Fatty Acids on Canine Semen Quality

Polyunsaturated fatty acids are important membrane components that influence membrane integrity and fluidity. In the present study, the effect of oral supplementation for 60 days with essential fatty acids (omega 3, 6 and 9) and vitamin E on canine semen quality was evaluated. Sixteen dogs were selected for the experiment; eight were used as the control group and eight received the fatty acid supplemented diet for 60 days. Semen samples were taken every 15 days during the entire experimental period and were analyzed for volume (ml), motility (%), vigour (0–5), concentration (×10⁶/ml), morphology of spermatozoa (%), plasma membrane integrity (%; using the hyposmotic swelling test) and thermoresistance (motility and vigour after 4 h at 38°C). We concluded that, daily supplementation with omega 3, omega 6 and omega 9 fatty acids, together with vitamin E, for a period of 60 days, significantly increased the semen volume of the treated group after 15 days of supplementation; the vigour and concentration of spermatozoa were superior after the first month of supplementation, while the percentage of morphologically abnormal spermatozoa decreased and the cells were protected against thermal stress.     

Use of liquid chromatography for the determination of formaldehyde in biological materials

Formaldehyde can be displaced from a homogenized sample by stem distillation. After transfer to 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazone it can be determined by liquid chromatography in reverse phase. The detection limit of the method is 2.5 ng/ml.     

Failure of hyperimmune plasma to prevent pneumonia caused by Rhodococcus equi in foals

SUMMARY A trial was conducted on a Thoroughbred stud to determine whether or not the administration of anti-Rhodococcus equi hyperimmune plasma would reduce the prevalence of R equi pneumonia (rattles) in foals born in the 1992 horse breeding season. Hyperimmune plasma was administered to 34 foals; another 57 foals were untreated. There was no significant difference in the number of transfused foals developing R equi pneumonia compared with the untreated foals. The time required for recovery from pneumonia between the 2 groups was not significantly different.     

Annual dynamics of acidobasic indices in the sheep blood]

Altogether 218 sheep were followed for a year and the values of their acidobasic indices were examined, the follow-up comprises all seasons of the year, gravidity period, time of nursing and milk production. The actual pH value in the sheep blood varied from 7.30 to 7.48, with 7.40 average. The average value of partial CO2 pressure amounted to 37.26 torr the individual values varying between 30.0 and 47.5 torr. Baz excess varies from +5.0 to -6.3 mval/1 blood with year average of 1.11 mval/1 blood. Buffer baz was 43.0 mval/1 on the average, with variations from 34.2 to 48.9 mval/1 blood. Standard bicarbonate showed a relatively broad range of values from 19.0 to 28.0 mval/1 plasma, with 22.85 mval/1 average. Actual bicarbonate manifested similar variation dynamics as SB. Annual average was 22.92 mval/1 plasma, with variations from 19.0 to 28.2 mval/1. Total plasmatic CO2 had balanced average monthly values, with year average of 23.84 mval/1. Generally it can be concluded that after the sheep being out to grass the acidobasic blood indices became regulated.     

Effect of physical stress on the indices of acid-base homeostasis in pigs]

Investigated was the effect of physical stress--fixation with a cord at the collection of blood--on the values of the indexes of the acid-base homeostasis of the blood of pigs. It was found out that there existed two types of pigs reacting differently to physical stress. One is a labile type in which, after the stress, there occurs a rapid decrease of the pH of the blood, and the second is a stable type, in which the pH of the blood does not change. The decreasing of the pH in blood is more frequent in younger age categories of fattening pigs and gilts. Application of tranquillizers decreased, to a considerable extent, the occurrence of changes of the acid-base homeostasis of blood.