Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: E. Chmelíková Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: M. Sedmíková Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: J. Petr Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Animal Science, Prague-Uhříněves, Czech Republic Author-Name: T. Kott Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Animal Science, Prague-Uhříněves, Czech Republic Author-Name: V. Lánská Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: L. Tůmová Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: H. Tichovská Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: M. Ješeta Author-Workplace-Name: Veterinary Research Institute, Brno, Czech Republic Title: Expression and localization of nitric oxide synthase isoforms during porcine oocyte growth and acquisition of meiotic competence Abstract: Reproduction biotechnologies depend on the use of fully meiotically competent oocytes. Growing oocytes without full meiotic competence are an interesting potential source due to their quantity, but the mechanisms regulating the processes of acquisition of meiotic competence have not been clarified to date. Nitric oxide synthase (NOS) and its product, nitric oxide (NO), may possibly play a role. Understanding the precise NO regulatory mechanism is therefore important for the development of in vitro growth methods. The objective of this work was to detect changes in the expression of NOS isoforms and their mRNA expression and changes in the intracellular localization of separate NOS isoforms during the growth period of the porcine oocyte, and also to determine whether these changes are related to the process of meiotic competence acquisition. mRNA for all NOS isoforms was already detected in oocytes at the beginning of their growth and was present in them until they completed their growth period. mRNA for iNOS and eNOS was also observed in granulosa and cumulus cells from these oocytes. But nNOS mRNA was not demonstrated in these types of cells. Pig oocytes and their surrounding cells contained all NOS proteins. Their amounts increased and localization changed with the acquisition of meiotic competence. nNOS was localized mainly in the cortex in meiotically incompetent oocytes, while meiotically competent oocytes contained nNOS in the nucleus as well. iNOS protein was distributed in the cytoplasm and nucleus in all oocytes, and meiotically incompetent oocytes contained iNOS in the nucleolus as well. eNOS protein was distributed in oocytes in the form of fine granules with a strong fluorescence signal. Protein was concentrated in the nuclear area in meiotically incompetent oocytes and also in the periphery in oocytes with partially and fully-developed meiotic competence. All these findings indicate that NOS isoforms may significantly influence the acquisition of meiotic competence in porcine oocytes. Keywords: pig, oocyte, growth, meiotic competence, NO-synthase Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 137-149 Volume: 54 Issue: 4 Year: 2009 DOI: 10.17221/1742-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/1742-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-200904-0001.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:54:y:2009:i:4:id:1742-CJAS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: R.G. Ramírez Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Biological Sciences, Autonomous University of Nuevo León in San Nicolás de los Garza, Nuevo León, México Author-Name: H. González-Rodríguez Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Forestry Sciences, Autonomous University of Nuevo León in Linares, Nuevo León, México Author-Name: R. Morales-Rodríguez Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Biological Sciences, Autonomous University of Nuevo León in San Nicolás de los Garza, Nuevo León, México Author-Name: A. Cerrillo-Soto Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Juárez University of the State of Durango in Durango, Durango, México Author-Name: A. Juárez-Reyes Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Juárez University of the State of Durango in Durango, Durango, México Author-Name: G.J. García-Dessommes Author-Workplace-Name: National Institute of Agricultural Research, in Terán, Nuevo León, México Author-Name: M. Guerrero-Cervantes Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Biological Sciences, Autonomous University of Nuevo León in San Nicolás de los Garza, Nuevo León, México Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Juárez University of the State of Durango in Durango, Durango, México Title: Chemical composition and dry matter digestion of some native and cultivated grasses in Mexico Abstract: The objective of the study was to quantify differences in nutritive value, over four seasons, of native grasses such as Bouteloua curtipendula, Bouteloua trifida, Brachiaria fasciculata, Chloris ciliata, Digitaria insularis, Leptochloa filiformis, Panicum hallii, Panicum obtusum, Paspalum unispicatum, Setaria grisebachii, Setaria macrostachya, Tridens eragrostoides, Tridens muticus and naturalized chrus ciliaris and Rhynchelytrum repens that are used as forages for grazing beef cattle. Cenchrus ciliaris was included as a reference grass of good nutritional quality. Plants were collected in autumn 2001 and in winter, spring and summer 2002. The nutritive value was assessed in terms of nutrient content, effective rumen degradable dry matter (EDDM), metabolizable energy (ME) and metabolizable protein (MP). Most grasses had crude protein (CP) content comparable to the reference C. ciliaris grass (grand mean = 120 g/kg) and some of them had a higher content (140 g/kg). Cell wall (NDF) and lignin contents were lower in C. ciliaris (650 g/kg, 30, respectively) than in the other grasses (mean = 700 g/kg, 60, respectively). All grasses had less EDDM (mean = 420 g/kg) than C. ciliaris (470 g/kg). All grasses had the ME content (mean = 5.6 MJ/kg DM) that was lower for maintenance requirements of growing beef cattle. Conversely, mean MP values (67 g/kg DM) were sufficient. Lower content of P (annual mean = 120 g/kg DM), Na (0.3) and Cu (40 mg/kg DM) was detected in all grasses to meet the requirements of growing cattle. All grasses, in all seasons, had sufficient CP and MP content to meet the maintenance requirements of growing beef cattle. Higher levels of EDDM occurred in summer and autumn. Because of their good nutritional quality, grasses such as B. fasciculata, C. ciliata, P. hallii, P. obtusum, S. grisebachii, S. macrostachy and T. eragrostoides can be considered as good forages for ruminants. Keywords: native grasses, chemical composition, nutritive value, rumen degradability Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 150-162 Volume: 54 Issue: 4 Year: 2009 DOI: 10.17221/1741-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/1741-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-200904-0002.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:54:y:2009:i:4:id:1741-CJAS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: S. Nitrayová Author-Workplace-Name: Slovak Agricultural Research Centre, Research Institute of Animal Production, Nitra, Slovak Republic Author-Name: P. Patráš Author-Workplace-Name: Slovak Agricultural Research Centre, Research Institute of Animal Production, Nitra, Slovak Republic Author-Name: M. Brestenský Author-Workplace-Name: Slovak Agricultural Research Centre, Research Institute of Animal Production, Nitra, Slovak Republic Author-Name: J. Zelenka Author-Workplace-Name: Mendel University of Agriculture and Forestry, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: J. Brož Author-Workplace-Name: DSM Nutritional Products, Animal Nutrition and Health R & D, Basel, Switzerland Author-Name: J. Heger Author-Workplace-Name: Slovak Agricultural Research Centre, Research Institute of Animal Production, Nitra, Slovak Republic Title: Effect of microbial phytase and diet fermentation on ileal and total tract digestibility of nutrients and energy in growing pigs Abstract: A digestibility experiment using six ileally cannulated growing gilts (initial BW 31.6 kg) was carried out to study the effect of microbial phytase and diet form on apparent ileal and total tract digestibilities of dry matter (DM), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), calcium (Ca) and energy and on apparent ileal digestibility of amino acids. The basal P-deficient diet was fed either dry or mixed with water (feed:water ratio 1:2.5) and fermented in a laboratory setup. The enzyme was added to the dry diet at four levels (0, 1 000, 1 500 and 3 000 U/kg) and to the liquid fermented diet at two levels (0 and 1 000 U/kg) using a 6 × 6 Latin square design. The supplementation of microbial phytase to the basal diets significantly (P < 0.05) improved ileal and total tract digestibility of P and tended to improve the digestibility of Ca. Phytase supplementation at 3 000 U/kg to the dry diet improved ileal and total tract P digestibility by approximately 30 and 60%, respectively. A similar effect was found in the liquid fermented diet supplemented with phytase at 1 000 U/kg. As a result of improved P digestibility, faecal P excretion was reduced by 20-40%. There was no significant effect of phytase addition or diet fermentation on the digestibility of DM, N, energy or amino acids. The response in amino acid digestibility to phytase calculated with acid insoluble ash as a marker was slightly higher than that calculated with Cr2O3. Keywords: phytase, nutrient digestibility, diet fermentation, pigs Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 163-174 Volume: 54 Issue: 4 Year: 2009 DOI: 10.17221/1743-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/1743-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-200904-0003.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:54:y:2009:i:4:id:1743-CJAS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: A. Wojcik Author-Workplace-Name: University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Faculty of Animal Bioengineering, Department of Animal and Environmental Hygiene, Olsztyn, Poland Author-Name: T. Mituniewicz Author-Workplace-Name: University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Faculty of Animal Bioengineering, Department of Animal and Environmental Hygiene, Olsztyn, Poland Author-Name: K. Iwanczuk-Czernik Author-Workplace-Name: University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Faculty of Animal Bioengineering, Department of Animal and Environmental Hygiene, Olsztyn, Poland Author-Name: J. Sowinska Author-Workplace-Name: University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Faculty of Animal Bioengineering, Department of Animal and Environmental Hygiene, Olsztyn, Poland Author-Name: D. Witkowska Author-Workplace-Name: University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Faculty of Animal Bioengineering, Department of Animal and Environmental Hygiene, Olsztyn, Poland Author-Name: L. Chorazy Author-Workplace-Name: University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Faculty of Animal Bioengineering, Department of Animal and Environmental Hygiene, Olsztyn, Poland Title: Contents of macro- and microelements in blood serum and breast muscle of broiler chickens subjected to different variants of pre-slaughter handling Abstract: This experiment was aimed at determining contents of Ca, Mg, Na, K, P, and Fe in blood serum and breast muscles of broiler chickens COBB 500 subjected to different variants of pre-slaughter handling in the summer period: no transport (N-T); transport to a distance of 100 km (T-100) and 200 km (T-200). The complete pre-slaughter handling consisted of the following stages: catching the birds, weighing, loading to containers, transport and waiting for slaughter, unloading and weighing after the transport. In the N-T group, transport and weighing after the transport were excluded from the pre-handling management. Stress factors occurring in the pre-slaughter handling evoked a detrimental effect on the bodies of both males and females and appeared to affect concentrations of Ca, Mg, Na, K, P, and Fe in blood serum and breast muscles of the broiler chickens. An upward tendency was observed in serum levels of those elements after transport to a distance of 100 km which was, however, followed by their decline. An opposite tendency was demonstrated in breast muscle. Taking into account the sex of the chickens, differences were observed in contents of macro- and microelements between males and females, both in their blood sera and breast muscles. Keywords: chickens, stress, pre-slaughter handling, macro- and microelements Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 175-181 Volume: 54 Issue: 4 Year: 2009 DOI: 10.17221/1744-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/1744-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-200904-0004.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:54:y:2009:i:4:id:1744-CJAS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: M. Okulicz Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Physiology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Animal Breeding and Biology, University of Life Sciences in Poznań, Poznań, Poland Author-Name: I. Hertig Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Physiology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Animal Breeding and Biology, University of Life Sciences in Poznań, Poznań, Poland Author-Name: J. Chichłowska Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Physiology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Animal Breeding and Biology, University of Life Sciences in Poznań, Poznań, Poland Title: Effects of indole-3-carbinol on metabolic parameters and on lipogenesis and lipolysis in adipocytes 182 Abstract: : Indole-3-carbinol (I3C) was found to have possible anticarcinogenic, antioxidant and anti-atherogenic effects on the organism. So far, its influence on metabolic pathways has been unknown. This work was the first attempt to determine the carbohydrate and lipid metabolism changes in vivo after administration of 150 mg/kg b.wt./day I3C to male rats. Additionally, the aim of this trial was to evaluate the direct effect of I3C on basal and hormone-induced lipogenesis and lipolysis in isolated rat adipocytes at concentrations 1, 10, 100 μM in vitro. We can corroborate that adipocytes are susceptible to the direct action of I3C. The incubation of adipocytes with I3C at the three above-mentioned concentrations resulted in its influence on restriction of glucose entry into adipocytes in the basal as well as insulin-stimulated conditions. However, it was observed that I3C at these concentrations strongly intensified basic and epinephrine-stimulated lipolysis. I3C also has a significant influence on metabolism in vivo. Its administration to rats caused a significant increase in the content of triglycerides and a decrease in glycogen in the liver. The considerable augmentation of glucose, triglycerides, cholesterol in high-density lipoprotein and insulin with a concomitant decrease in FFA concentrations was noted in the blood serum. I3C did not alter phospholipids, total, free, esterified cholesterol in the serum and the liver cholesterol. The results obtained in vivo and in vivo indicate that the effect of I3C is adverse for the majority of metabolic parameters which were investigated. The most important finding in this study is the effect of I3C on liver steatosis and that the observed lower lipogenesis at higher lipolysis in fat cells may be involved in the mechanism. Keywords: indole-3-carbinol, lipid metabolism, carbohydrate metabolism, rat Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 182-189 Volume: 54 Issue: 4 Year: 2009 DOI: 10.17221/1745-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/1745-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-200904-0005.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:54:y:2009:i:4:id:1745-CJAS