Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Z. Sladek Author-Workplace-Name: Mendel University of Agriculture and Forestry, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Workplace-Name: Veterinary Research Institute, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: D. Rysanek Author-Workplace-Name: Veterinary Research Institute, Brno, Czech Republic Title: Expression of macrophage CD14 receptor in the course of experimental inflammatory responses induced by lipopolysaccharide and muramyl dipeptide Abstract: The aim of this study was to determine whether expression of CD14 on macrophages is regulated differently during initiation and resolution of the inflammatory response caused by CD14-dependent (lipopolysaccharide) and CD14-independent (muramyldipeptide) bacterial signals. In cell suspensions from the site of inflammation we observed two types of macrophages: non-vacuolized (NMAC) and vacuolized (VMAC) cells. NMAC (monocyte-like cells) were dominant during the early stage of the inflammatory response, whilst VMAC contained phagocytosed apoptotic neutrophils in various stages of digestion. These latter cells were dominant during resolution (particularly at the last time point of 168 h). Intramammary instillation of muramyldipeptide (MDP) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) resulted in a significant increase in the total count of CD14+ NMAC after 24 h (muramyldipeptide P < 0.01 and lipopolysaccharide P < 0.05) compared to phosphate buffered saline (PBS). During resolution of the inflammatory response, a gradual decrease in the total count of CD14+ NMAC was observed. The difference compared with PBS was significant at 48 h and 72 h after instillation of both bacterial agents (muramyldipeptide: P < 0.05; lipopolysaccharide: P < 0.05). A lower total count of CD14+ VMAC was observed as an effect of MDP and LPS at 24 h after induction (P < 0.05), when compared to PBS. During resolution, the total count of CD14+ VMAC increased. Differences (P < 0.01) were observed at 72 h and 168 h after LPS compared to PBS. We therefore assume that the expression of CD14 on macrophages is not regulated differently during the inflammatory responses caused by CD14-dependent and CD14-independent bacterial signals. On the other hand, the stage of the inflammatory response to MDP and LPS played an important role in the regulation of CD14 expression on macrophages. Keywords: mammary gland, macrophages, CD14, muramyldipeptide, lipopolysaccharide Journal: Veterinární medicína Pages: 347-357 Volume: 53 Issue: 7 Year: 2008 DOI: 10.17221/1991-VETMED File-URL: http://vetmed.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/1991-VETMED.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/vet-200807-0001.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlvet:v:53:y:2008:i:7:id:1991-VETMED Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: M. Machatkova Author-Workplace-Name: Veterinary Research Institute, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: P. Hulinska Author-Workplace-Name: Veterinary Research Institute, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: Z. Reckova Author-Workplace-Name: Veterinary Research Institute, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: K. Hanzalova Author-Workplace-Name: Veterinary Research Institute, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: J. Spanihelova Author-Workplace-Name: University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: R. Pospisil Author-Workplace-Name: Palacky University, Olomouc, Czech Republic Title: In vitro production of embryos from high performance cows and the development of frozen-thawed embryos after transfer: a field study Abstract: In this field study, embryos were derived from genetically highly valuable cows excluded from breeding due to reproductive disorders. Cows, 5 to 10 years old, of Czech Siemmental, Holstein Dairy and Beef Cattle breeds were used as oocyte donors. Oocytes were obtained either in the growth phase of the first follicular wave from cows with synchronized oestrus or in any other phases of follicular development from cows without oestrus synchronization. The embryos were prepared by a standard protocol described previously. The mean number of usable oocytes, transferable and freezable embryos per donor, and the mean percentage of usable, transferable and freezable embryos were assessed. The results were analyzed by Student's-t and Chi-squared tests. The embryos were frozen according to a slow freezing protocol. After thawing, they were transferred to recipients on Day 7 after oestrus. Irrespective of the breed, the mean numbers of usable oocytes and transferable and freezable embryos collected per donor were significantly higher (P < 0.01) for the synchronized than for the nonsynchronized donors (20.4 vs 11.7, 4.3 vs 1.0 and 3.2 vs 0.8, respectively). Similarly, the mean percentages of usable oocytes, transferable and freezable embryos were significantly higher (P < 0.01) for the synchronized than for the nonsynchronized donors (28.5% vs 20.5%, 20.9% vs 9.0% and 15.8% vs 6.5%, respectively). On comparison of the synchronized and nonsynchronized donors of each breed, the difference in the mean percentage of usable oocytes was significant (P < 0.01) in cows of all three breeds, the difference in the mean percentage of transferable embryos was significant in Czech Siemmental and Holstein Dairy cows (P < 0.01) and the difference in the mean percentage of freezable embryos was significant only in Holstein Dairy cows (P < 0.01). After the transfer of 41 frozen-thawed embryos and 43 fresh embryos, 20 heifers and 24 heifers became pregnant, respectively. In conclusion: (a) higher number of oocytes from infertile, genetically valuable cows was recovered in the growth phase compared with the other phases of follicular development; (b) greater development of these oocytes resulted in more embryos for transfer and cryopreservation; (c) the transfer of frozen-thawed and fresh embryos resulted in pregnancy rates of 48.8% and 55.8% , respectively. Keywords: cattle, in vitro embryos, cryopreservation, embryo transfer Journal: Veterinární medicína Pages: 358-364 Volume: 53 Issue: 7 Year: 2008 DOI: 10.17221/1993-VETMED File-URL: http://vetmed.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/1993-VETMED.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/vet-200807-0002.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlvet:v:53:y:2008:i:7:id:1993-VETMED Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: D. Usvald Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Libechov, Czech Republic Author-Name: J. Hlucilova Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Libechov, Czech Republic Author-Name: J. Strnadel Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Libechov, Czech Republic Author-Name: R. Prochazka Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Libechov, Czech Republic Author-Name: J. Motlik Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Libechov, Czech Republic Author-Name: M. Marsala Author-Workplace-Name: University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA Title: Permanent jugular catheterization in miniature pig: treatment, clinical and pathological observatio Abstract: The aim of present study was the installation of permanent jugular catheter to miniature pigs, which are frequently used as animal model for the experiments closely related to human medicine. We describe here in many details surgical interventions leading to the localization and fixation of Seldinger needle in ν. jugularis externa and its use for extended period of time. Eight animals were included in these experiments and their heath status was currently monitored and no visible problems were recorded. After two months they were euthanased and potential function of catheters was carefully inspected. Only in two instances we found pathological changes resulting in the obstruction of catheter and trombophlebitis of ν.jugularis externa sin and ν. cava cranialis In six remaining animals, it was easy to inject any time the solutions with drugs to blood system or to take safely blood samples. During whole post operation period the animals were maintained in conventional conditions, without any special care. Keywords: miniature pig, central venous catheter, Seldinger's method Journal: Veterinární medicína Pages: 365-372 Volume: 53 Issue: 7 Year: 2008 DOI: 10.17221/1992-VETMED File-URL: http://vetmed.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/1992-VETMED.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/vet-200807-0003.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlvet:v:53:y:2008:i:7:id:1992-VETMED Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: B. Kroliczewska Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Wroclaw, Poland Author-Name: W. Zawadzki Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Wroclaw, Poland Author-Name: T. Skiba Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Food Science, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Wroclaw, Poland Author-Name: W. Kopec Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Food Science, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Wroclaw, Poland Author-Name: J. Kroliczewski Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Biotechnology, Wroclaw University, Wroclaw, Poland Title: The influence of baical skullcap root (Scutellaria baicalensis radix) in the diet of broiler chickens on the chemical composition of the muscles, selected performance traits of the animals and the sensory characteristics of the meat Abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the baical skullcap root (Scutellaria baicalensis radix) on the performance, chemical composition of the muscles and sensory characteristics of the meat of broiler chickens. 120 one-day old Hubbard Hi-Y broiler hybrids were assigned to four groups of 30 each and fed either a basal diet (control) or a basal diet supplemented with 0.5%, 1.0% or 1.5% ground root of skullcap. The body weight, weight gain, feed consumption and feed : gain ratio were calculated after 42 days. The addition of the ground baical skullcap root to the fodder had no effect on the quality or chemical composition of the breast and leg muscles of the broiler chickens. However, it positively influenced some of the performance characteristics of the chickens. Keywords: chemical composition, meat quality, skullcap root Journal: Veterinární medicína Pages: 373-380 Volume: 53 Issue: 7 Year: 2008 DOI: 10.17221/1994-VETMED File-URL: http://vetmed.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/1994-VETMED.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/vet-200807-0004.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlvet:v:53:y:2008:i:7:id:1994-VETMED Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: D.H. Zhou Author-Workplace-Name: College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China Author-Name: J. Wu Author-Workplace-Name: College of Animal Science, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China Author-Name: S.J. Yang Author-Workplace-Name: College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China Author-Name: D.C. Cheng Author-Workplace-Name: College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China Author-Name: D.Z. Guo Author-Workplace-Name: College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China Title: Intravenous endothelin-1 triggers pulmonary hypertension syndrome (ascites) in broilers Abstract: Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the effect of endothelin-1(ET-1) on pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP) and pulmonary hypertension syndrome (PHS, ascites) morbidity in broilers. Two hundred and seventy of one-day-old Arbor Acre commercial broiler chickens were randomly allocated into two experiments. In Experiment 1, 40 broilers (28 days of age) were intravenously with five different dose groups of ET-1, and the PAP was measured from time 0 to 30 min. The results indicated that the PAP increased from time 0.5 to 5 min after the broilers were injected with ET-1 at concentrations of 24 ng/kg (Group T1), 120 ng/kg (Group T2), and 240 ng/kg (Group T3). When the broilers were injected with ET-1 at a concentration of 360 ng/kg (Group T4), the PAP decreased immediately from time 0 to 0.5 min but increased from time 0.5 to 10 min. The change from baseline (at time 0, before the injection) of PAP values from the four treatment groups were statistically compared with that from the control group (Group C). The statistical analysis has demonstrated that there is no significant difference of the changes from the baseline between Group T1 or Group T2 and control group (Group C). However, there are significant differences in the changes between Group T3 or Group T4 and control group (Group C). In Experiment 2, 230 broilers were divided into four groups: a control group (Group C, n = 50) and three treatment groups (Groups A, B, and D). The chickens in the two treatment groups (Groups A and B, nn = 60 each) were intravenously injected with ET-1 at 240 ng/kg and 360 ng/kg, respectively. Those in Group D (n = 60) were exposed to cool temperatures (10°C to 14°C). The PHS morbidity, right/total ventricular weight (RV/TV) ratio, PCV, plasma nitric oxide (NO), and PAP were recorded and statistically compared. The results showed that PHS mortality did not occur in Group C, and trends toward increases in PHS mortality in Groups A, B and D were not significant. The RV/TV ratio and PAP were higher in groups A, B and D than in group C. The values for PCV and plasma nitric oxide (NO) followed the same tendencies as the RV/TV ratio. The results suggest that ET-1 at higher doses (240 ng/kg to 360 ng/kg) can initiate pulmonary hypertension and right ventricular hypertrophy, leading to PHS in broilers. Keywords: endothelin-1, pulmonary hypertension syndrome, broilers, nitric oxide Journal: Veterinární medicína Pages: 381-391 Volume: 53 Issue: 7 Year: 2008 DOI: 10.17221/1989-VETMED File-URL: http://vetmed.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/1989-VETMED.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/vet-200807-0005.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlvet:v:53:y:2008:i:7:id:1989-VETMED Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: R. Guitart Author-Workplace-Name: Autonomous University of Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain Author-Name: C. Mateu Author-Workplace-Name: Veterinary Hospital of the Maresme, Mataro, Spain Author-Name: A. Lopez i Agullo Author-Workplace-Name: Veterinary Services of Mataro, Mataro, Spain Author-Name: J. Alberola Author-Workplace-Name: Autonomous University of Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain Title: Heinz body anaemia in two dogs after Catalan spring onion ("calcot") ingestion: a case report Abstract: Catalan spring onions, or "calcots", are a very popular kind of vegetables obtained by special agronomic practices that avoid photosynthesis and subsequent metabolism by the Allium cepa plants. They have been considered for more than a century harmless for pets, as pleasant odour and sweet taste differ so largely from any other onion that can be ingested by children and adults in huge quantities, up to ~3% body weight, without problems being observed. However, the organosulphur chemicals responsible for oxidative damage to canine red blood cells found in this plant species seem to remain present, as two dogs were confirmed to be poisoned after eating left-over "calcots". Both patients presented haemolytic anaemia with Heinz body formation, and eccentrocytosis. Veterinarians and owners should be aware of the dangers associated with this particular onion variety and type, as it is highly palatable to pets and no effective treatment is currently available. Keywords: Allium cepa, poisoning, organosulphur compounds, oxidative damage Journal: Veterinární medicína Pages: 392-395 Volume: 53 Issue: 7 Year: 2008 DOI: 10.17221/1990-VETMED File-URL: http://vetmed.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/1990-VETMED.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/vet-200807-0006.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlvet:v:53:y:2008:i:7:id:1990-VETMED