Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: J. Mlynarczuk Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research, Polish Academy of Sciences, Olsztyn-Kortowo, Poland Author-Name: R. Amarowicz Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research, Polish Academy of Sciences, Olsztyn-Kortowo, Poland Author-Name: J. Kotwica Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research, Polish Academy of Sciences, Olsztyn-Kortowo, Poland Title: Effect of polychlorinated biphenyls (Aroclor-1248) on the secretory function of bovine luteal cells affected by LH, noradrenaline and high density lipoproteins Abstract: The corpus luteum (CL), formed from the ruptured follicle, is required for the course of normal cyclicity and the duration of pregnancy in females. The influence of a mixture of polychlorinated biphenyls - PCBs (Aroclor-1248) - on the secretory function of CL (dispersed bovine luteal cells) during different stages of the estrous cycle was studied. The cells (1.2 × 105/ml) were pre-incubated for 24 h and were then treated with 10, 100 or 500 ng/ml of PCBs. Aခ1E;er 24, 48, 72, 96 or 144 h luteinizing hormone (LH; 100 ng/ml; positive control) was added to the medium. The most evident impaired secretion of progesterone was measured after 72 h of incubation with PCBs and this time was selected for the further experiments. In Exp. 2 high density lipoproteins (HDL), as a source of cholesterol (25 μg), increased progesterone secretion from luteal cells; PCBs enhanced this effect in mid and late stage of the estrous cycle. PCBs had no effect on the stimulatory influence of LH, which itself stimulated progesterone secretion. In Exp. 3 PCBs (500 ng/ml) decreased progesterone secretion from the early CL and increased stimulatory effect of noradrenaline (NA) on progesterone secretion from mid CL. Aroclor-1248 stimulated oxytocin (OT) secretion from all stages of CL development. NA alone increased OT secretion from mid and late CL and moreover, it amplified effect by Aroclor on CL from all studied stages of their development. We conclude that the mixture of PCBs, commercially available as Aroclor-1248, can directly impair the function of bovine CL and thus it can affect the estrous cycle duration or embryo development. Keywords: bovine, PCBs, corpus luteum, progesterone, oxytocin, HDL Journal: Veterinární medicína Pages: 267-274 Volume: 48 Issue: 10 Year: 2003 DOI: 10.17221/5779-VETMED File-URL: http://vetmed.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/5779-VETMED.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/vet-200310-0001.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlvet:v:48:y:2003:i:10:id:5779-VETMED Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: V. Tancin Author-Workplace-Name: ,2, A.H. I 2, D. P 1, P.H. H 2, J. M 3 1Research Institute of Animal Production, Nitra, Slovak Republic Author-Name: A.H. Ipema Author-Workplace-Name: ,2, A.H. I 2, D. P 1, P.H. H 2, J. M 3 1Research Institute of Animal Production, Nitra, Slovak Republic Author-Name: D. Peskovicova Author-Workplace-Name: ,2, A.H. I 2, D. P 1, P.H. H 2, J. M 3 1Research Institute of Animal Production, Nitra, Slovak Republic Author-Name: P.H. Hogeverf Author-Workplace-Name: ,2, A.H. I 2, D. P 1, P.H. H 2, J. M 3 1Research Institute of Animal Production, Nitra, Slovak Republic Author-Name: J. Macuhova Author-Workplace-Name: ,2, A.H. I 2, D. P 1, P.H. H 2, J. M 3 1Research Institute of Animal Production, Nitra, Slovak Republic Title: Quarter milk flow patterns in dairy cows: factors involved and repeatability Abstract: The objectives of our study were to describe the variation of quarter milk flow parameters and to determine the factors that affect these parameters the most. Additionally, repeatabilities (r2) of the quarter milk flow traits (duration of milk flow, time to reach peak flow, peak flow rate, and duration of milk flow in single phases - increase, plateau, decline and blind phase) were calculated. Repeatability of total milk yield and milk yield in single phases was calculated, too. The data from 39 Holstein cows, in their first to third lactation and free of clinical mastitis, were used for statistical analysis. A total of 1 656 curves of quarter milk flows were recorded during six consecutive days. At the last evening and morning milking samples of milk from each quarter were collected for determination of somatic cell count (SCC). Peak flow rate, quarter position, time of milking (morning and evening) and SCC significantly affected most of the measured traits. The highest r2 were for total milk yield and yield of plateau phase 0.53 and 0.50, resp. The lowest r2 were calculated for the duration of increase phase, and milk yield of the increase and blind phase 0.26, 0.12 and 0.21, resp. Peak flow rate, SCC, time of milking and front-rear position influenced the values of r2 of traits to various extent. Keywords: dairy cows, quarter, milk flow, SCC, repeatability Journal: Veterinární medicína Pages: 275-282 Volume: 48 Issue: 10 Year: 2003 DOI: 10.17221/5780-VETMED File-URL: http://vetmed.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/5780-VETMED.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/vet-200310-0002.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlvet:v:48:y:2003:i:10:id:5780-VETMED Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: W. Markiewicz Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Olsztyn, Poland Title: Alpha adrenergic receptors are involved in the contractile activity of neuropeptide Y in the porcine isolated ovarian artery Abstract: The objective of this study was to determine whether α-adrenergic receptors are involved in the contractile activity of neuropeptide Y (NPY) in the porcine isolated ovarian artery collected from immature pigs and from the animals on day 1-5, 8-13 and 17-20 of the estrous cycle. NPY increased (P < 0.05) blood pressure in preparations collected form the immature and mature pigs. NPY administration into prazosin pre-treated vessels increased (P < 0.05) blood pressure in preparations of the immature and mature animals with the highest potency in the vessels from days 17-20 of the cycle. Simultaneous methoxamine and NPY treatment caused an increase (P < 0.05) in blood pressure in the vessels from all the periods examined with the highest potency in the preparations from days 17-20 of the cycle. NPY administration at the time of the maximum response to rauwolscine increased (P < 0.05) blood pressure in the preparations from the immature and mature pigs with the highest changes in the preparations from days 17-20 of the cycle. In clonidine pre-treated ovarian arteries, NPY insignificantly increased (P > 0.05) blood pressure in the preparations collected from the immature pigs and on days 1-5, 8-13 of the cycle, and significantly increased (P < 0.05) blood pressure in preparations from the animals on days 17-20 of the oestrous cycle. The present study has revealed that NPY increases blood pressure in the isolated porcine ovarian artery and that α-adrenergic receptors are involved in the vosocontractile action of this peptide. Moreover, the changes in the blood pressure caused by NPY alone or administered after α-adrenergic receptor agonists or antagonists treatment are dependent on steroid hormone concentrations. Keywords: neuropeptide Y, α -adrenergic agonists, -adrenergic antagonists, norepinephrine, porcine ovarian artery, blood pressure Journal: Veterinární medicína Pages: 283-292 Volume: 48 Issue: 10 Year: 2003 DOI: 10.17221/5781-VETMED File-URL: http://vetmed.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/5781-VETMED.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/vet-200310-0003.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlvet:v:48:y:2003:i:10:id:5781-VETMED Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: M. Trckova Author-Workplace-Name: , B. P 1, P. S 2, I. H 1 1Veterinary Research Institute, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: B. Pisarikova Author-Workplace-Name: , B. P 1, P. S 2, I. H 1 1Veterinary Research Institute, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: P. Suchy Author-Workplace-Name: , B. P 1, P. S 2, I. H 1 1Veterinary Research Institute, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: I. Herzig Author-Workplace-Name: , B. P 1, P. S 2, I. H 1 1Veterinary Research Institute, Brno, Czech Republic Title: Effect of a single dose of iodized fatty acid ester Lipiodol® Ultra-Fluid on egg iodine concentrations and egg production Abstract: The aim of the study was to test whether a single intramuscular or oral application of iodized fatty acid esters (IFAE), without any iodine supplements in the rations, would increase for a long time iodine concentrations in egg yolk without any drop of egg production and egg quality. The results were compared with those obtained using the conventional iodine source - potassium iodide (KI). After the adaptation period, 10 mg of iodine/kg of live weight were applied to the experimental layers at the age of 21 weeks. The layers were divided into four groups: the group K-KI received iodine orally in the form of potassium iodide; iodine was applied orally in the form of IFAE to the group P-PO; and iodine as IFAE was applied intramuscularly to the group P-IM. The control group (K-0) received no iodine. Increased concentrations of iodine in egg yolk were observed following oral application of KI and IFAE. Maximum concentrations were measured on day 5 following application (12 863 ± 3 269 μg I/kg for K-KI, and 14 037 ± 2 506 μg I/kg for P-PO). Quite different course of changes was recorded following intramuscular application of iodine (group P-IM). Both, the increase and drop of iodine concentrations were slow, maximum values were measured from day 11 till day 35 of the experiment (from 769 ± 426 to 1 163 ± 757 μg of I/kg yolk). Intramus­cular application of IFAE resulted in significantly higher levels (P < 0.05, P < 0.01) of iodine in egg yolk from day 11 till the end of the experiment (on day 154) compared with the group K-0, and from day 14 compared with the group K-KI. At the same time, more fluent course of egg production with maximum at the age of 34 weeks was observed in laying hens. No effect of iodine application on egg production and egg mass was found. Significantly higher weights of eggs (P < 0.05, P < 0.01) and egg white (P < 0.05) were recorded following oral and intramuscular application of IFAE compared with the control group K-0. Keywords: iodized oil, potassium iodide, egg yolk iodine concentration, egg weight, yolk weight, egg white weight, egg shell weight Journal: Veterinární medicína Pages: 293-300 Volume: 48 Issue: 10 Year: 2003 DOI: 10.17221/5782-VETMED File-URL: http://vetmed.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/5782-VETMED.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/vet-200310-0004.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlvet:v:48:y:2003:i:10:id:5782-VETMED Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: A. Ayidin Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Firat University, Turkey Title: Brachial plexus of the porcupine (Hystrix cristata) Abstract: In this study, the brachial plexus of the porcupine (Hystrix cristata) was investigated. Four porcupines (two males and two females) were used and the brachial plexus of them were dissected. It was found that the brachial plexus of the porcupine was formed by rami ventralis of C5, C6, C7, C8, T1 and T2. The rami ventralis of C5 and T2 were divided into two branches. The caudal branch of C5 and cranial branch of T2 contributed to the brachial plexus. The caudal branch of C5 and C6 constituted the cranial trunk and the caudal trunk was formed by a branch which came from cranial trunk, rami ventralis of C7, C8, T1 and the cranial branch of ventral ramus of T2. Contribution of C5 and T2 to the formation of the brachial plexus and division of the brachial plexus to the caudal and cranial trunks differ the brachial plexus of this species from those of rat, mouse and mammals. Keywords: spinal nerves, Hystrix cristata, brachial plexus, porcupines Journal: Veterinární medicína Pages: 301-304 Volume: 48 Issue: 10 Year: 2003 DOI: 10.17221/5783-VETMED File-URL: http://vetmed.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/5783-VETMED.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/vet-200310-0005.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlvet:v:48:y:2003:i:10:id:5783-VETMED