Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: D Chivchibashi-Pavlova Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University - Varna, Varna, Bulgaria Author-Name: K Bratoeva Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University - Varna, Varna, Bulgaria Title: Animal models of autism spectrum disorder: Insights into genetic, structural and environmental models Abstract: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a group of human neurodevelopmental disorders with significant global prevalence. Deficits in social communication and interaction and repetitive, stereotyped patterns of behaviour characterise ASD. The aetiology of ASD is unclear, but several genetic and environmental risk factors, either alone or in combination, are implicated in its development. To date, the underlying pathogenic mechanisms of ASD remain incompletely understood due to its heterogeneity. To better understand the pathogenesis of ASD, various animal models have been developed. The use of animals in ASD research allows the exploration of the biological substrates of social behaviour, cognition, and reward sensitivity, which are key components of ASD symptoms. This review outlines the commonly employed animal models in ASD research and explores their applications and the associated challenges. Keywords: animal experimental models, novel experimental models, primate models, rodent models, zebrafish models Journal: Veterinární medicína Pages: 227-241 Volume: 70 Issue: 7 Year: 2025 DOI: 10.17221/87/2024-VETMED File-URL: http://vetmed.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/87/2024-VETMED.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/vet-202507-0001.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlvet:v:70:y:2025:i:7:id:87-2024-VETMED Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: B Karabulut Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Pathology, Veterinary Faculty, Firat University, Elazig, Turkiye Author-Name: H Eroksuz Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Pathology, Veterinary Faculty, Firat University, Elazig, Turkiye Author-Name: Y Eroksuz Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Pathology, Veterinary Faculty, Firat University, Elazig, Turkiye Author-Name: M Gul Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Histology, Medicine School, Inonu University, Malatya, Turkiye Title: Exploring minocycline's effect on retinal degeneration following N-methyl-N-nitrosourea exposure in rats Abstract: Retinal degeneration (RD) is often associated with deficiencies or the inaccurate production of photoreceptor-specific proteins, which are encoded by various genes and characterised by the apoptotic and ongoing death of photoreceptor cells. This study involved administering a single intraperitoneal (i.p.) dose of 50 mg/kg of N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU) to rats to induce RD. Some of these rats also received intraperitoneal minocycline at varying doses to prevent RD. Euthanasia was conducted at five intervals: at 12, 24, 48, and 72 h, and on the 7th day; and eye samples were taken. These samples were analysed using histopathology, immunohistochemistry, and electron microscopy. Significant RD was observed in the MNU-treated groups, with photoreceptor cell apoptosis demonstrated by the TUNEL method. Compared with those in the control group, there was a progressive thinning of the photoreceptor layer and outer nuclear layer, along with increased levels of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), and reduced levels of rhodopsin and red/green opsin starting from the 12th hour in the experimental groups. Electron microscopy revealed that amacrine and bipolar cells, in addition to photoreceptors, were also affected. The minocycline treatment did not show significant differences in retinal layer thickness or the staining levels of PCNA, GFAP, and opsins in the MNU-induced RD model. Keywords: minocycline, retinal degeneration, retinitis pigmentosa Journal: Veterinární medicína Pages: 247-260 Volume: 70 Issue: 7 Year: 2025 DOI: 10.17221/122/2024-VETMED File-URL: http://vetmed.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/122/2024-VETMED.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/vet-202507-0002.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlvet:v:70:y:2025:i:7:id:122-2024-VETMED Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: T Majchrak Author-Workplace-Name: Clinic of Birds, Exotic and Free Living Animals, University Veterinary Hospital, University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Kosice, Kosice, Slovak Republic Author-Name: M Ratvaj Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Kosice, Kosice, Slovak Republic Author-Name: L Sabova Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Kosice, Kosice, Slovak Republic Author-Name: J Toporcak Author-Workplace-Name: Clinic of Birds, Exotic and Free Living Animals, University Veterinary Hospital, University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Kosice, Kosice, Slovak Republic Author-Name: L Molnar Author-Workplace-Name: Clinic of Birds, Exotic and Free Living Animals, University Veterinary Hospital, University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Kosice, Kosice, Slovak Republic Title: Toxicity of oxalic acid and its toxic effect on antioxidative enzymes in honey bee larvae Abstract: The production of food of plant origin is critically dependent on the pollination ability of honey bees, whose health has been deteriorating for a long time, and whose population is declining. In our in vivo experiment on a honey bee brood at the 4-day larval stage, we tested the following concentrations of oxalic acid: 0% (control - applied distilled water), 0.87%, 1.75%, 3.5% and 7%, corresponding to doses of 0 mg, 2.61 mg, 5.25 mg, 10.5 mg, and 21 mg of oxalic acid per dm2 of honeycomb with the brood. The LC50 values (72 h) ranged between 3.17% and 3.33%. The different LC50 values obtained resulted from three different methods used to calculate this indicator. The therapeutic index (TI) of oxalic acid was set to be 1.1, indicating a high risk to the honey bee brood. We observed an increased gene expression for the detoxifying enzyme glutathione-S-transferase (GST), but did not detect an increased gene expression for superoxide dismutase (SOD1 and SOD2), which protects the organism from oxidative stress. A decrease in gene expression was observed for prophenoloxidase and hymenoptaecin, while defensin and lysozyme did not show significant changes. These results emphasise the need for the accurate dosage and application of oxalic acid in the treatment of varroosis. Keywords: Apis mellifera, detoxifying enzymes, gene expression, oxalic acid, toxicity, Varroa destructor Journal: Veterinární medicína Pages: 261-271 Volume: 70 Issue: 7 Year: 2025 DOI: 10.17221/18/2025-VETMED File-URL: http://vetmed.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/18/2025-VETMED.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/vet-202507-0003.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlvet:v:70:y:2025:i:7:id:18-2025-VETMED Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: M Svoboda Author-Workplace-Name: Ruminant and Swine Clinic, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: J Vasek Author-Workplace-Name: Ruminant and Swine Clinic, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: J Jarkovsky Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Biostatistics and Analyses, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University Brno, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: V Skupien Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: V Vitkova Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic Title: The use of parenteral application of ferric carboxymaltose in the prevention of iron deficiency anaemia in suckling piglets Abstract: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of ferric carboxymaltose injection in the prevention of anaemia in suckling piglets. In group A (n = 8), piglets were administered iron in the form of iron carboxymaltose complex (Ferinject®) at a dose of 200 mg i.m. (neck muscle) at the age of 3 days. In group B (n = 8), piglets were given iron in the form of iron dextran (Ferribion®) at a dose of 200 mg i.m. (neck muscle) at the age of 3 days. In group C (n = 8, anaemic control group), iron was not administered until the age of 10 days. During the study, no statistically significant differences were observed in the parameters of red blood cell count or blood plasma iron concentration between the group that received iron carboxymaltase and the group that received iron dextran. The results of haematological and biochemical examinations achieved in our study show that the application of iron carboxymaltase was successful in preventing iron deficiency anaemia in piglets. The results indicate comparable efficacy of iron carboxymaltase and iron dextran. Keywords: carbohydrate complexes, haematocrit, haemoglobin concentration, swine Journal: Veterinární medicína Pages: 242-246 Volume: 70 Issue: 7 Year: 2025 DOI: 10.17221/22/2025-VETMED File-URL: http://vetmed.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/22/2025-VETMED.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/vet-202507-0004.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlvet:v:70:y:2025:i:7:id:22-2025-VETMED