Reproductive activity in cows following parturition against values of certain parameters of metabolic profile

Data from literature indicate that there is a correlation between the values of reproductive parameters and the values of parameters of the metabolic profile, even though this cannot be confirmed in many cases. The objective of this work was to examine the connection between certain parameters of the metabolic profile and the restoration of reproductive activity in the postpartal period. Blood samples were taken from the cows involved in the experiment and values of parameters of the metabolic state were determined in 27 cows, of which 14 were primiparous and 13 multiparous. In the blood serum samples, we determined the concentration of glucose, total proteins, albumin, urea, and the activities of certain enzymes (alkaline phosphatase, ASAT and ALAT). It was established on the grounds of the obtained results that the delay in the establishment of reproductive activity in the postpartal period was in correlation with the blood concentrations of urea and albumin.

OSMOLARITY AND APOPTOSIS IN IVF BOVINE EMBRYOS

The aim of this research was to establish the optimal conditions for culture of bovine embryos obtained in vitro and the effects of osmolarity on development and apoptosis. The embryos obtained by in vitro fertilization (IVF) procedure were divided into two different groups. The embryos from the control group were cultured for 7 days in B2-Menezo. The embryos from the experimental group were cultured in medium with NaCl, having variation of concentration and osmolarity. Results showed that there are differences in development stage and apoptosis. Increasing the concentration from 90 to 120mM NaCl generated decreasing of the blastocyst stage (P<0.05), and also the apoptosis was increased in the blastocyst stage. The optimum concentration of NaCl was 90mM and the optimum osmolarity of the medium was between 260-280 mOsmol for the studied IVF bovine embryos, affecting positively the embryos development

Concentration of cortisol, insulin-like growth factor-I and immunoglobulin G class in blood of neonatal calves of different body mass at birth

The objective of this work was to examine whether concentrations of cortisol, insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and immunoglobulin G class (IgG), in fact blood parameters which are believed to be of extreme importance in the postnatal survival of calves, are dependant on the body mass of calves at birth. Investigations were performed on 12 newborn calves of the Holstein-Friesian breed, placed into two groups on the grounds of their body mass at birth. The first group (n=6) comprised calves whose body mass was more than 35 kg at birth (41.67±3.08 kg), while the second group (n=6) comprised calves whose body mass at birth was less than 35 kg (32.00±3.58 kg). Blood samples were taken immediately preceding the consuming of colostrum, as well as at 32 hours of neonatal life. Cortisol and IGF-I concentrations were determined in blood serum samples taken immediately before colostrum consumption, while IgG concentration was determined in the samples taken 32 hours after the birth of the calves. The cortisol concentration in calves born with a greater body mass (61.51±32.78 nmol/l) was lower (p=0.052) than in calves born with a smaller body mass (94.89±17.74 nmol/l). A significant negative correlation (r= -0.592; p<0.05) was established between the body mass of calves at birth and the cortisol concentration. The IGF-I concentration determined immediately following birth in calves with a greater boy mass at birth (10.17±1.71 nmol/l) was statistically significantly higher (p<0.05) in comparison with calves born with a smaller body mass (7.04±1.15 nmol/l). There was a significant positive correlation (r = 0.519; p<0.10) between the body mass of calves at birth and the IGF-I concentration. Thirty-two hours following birth, the IgG concentration in blood serum of calves born with a bigger body mass (18.72±1.99 g/l) was significantly higher (p<0.05) than in calves born with a smaller body mass (11.68±4.79 g/l). A significant positive correlation was established between the body mass of calves at birth and the IgG concentration determined at 32 hours of neonatal life (r = 0.620; p<0.05). The obtained results point to the conclusion that calves of body mass over 35 kg at birth are better adapted to the conditions of the outer environment in comparison with calves born with a body mass of less than 35 kg.

Nigella sativa - a Plant with Personality in Biochemistry and Experimental Medicine Researches

Last decades often presented references to traditional medicine, or culinary use of natural resources for a better health status, prevention or treatment of different diseases. One of the natural plants came lately in the researches as a miracle salve: Nigella sativa. Also commonly known as black cumin, the most use of this plant are the seeds, such as, as powder, as oil extract, or as hydro or alcoholic extracts. Culinary usage of N. sativa is referring to the seeds used as spice. Medical usage of this plantis mostly used as oil or extracts administrated orally or intraperitoneal. The best demonstrated bioactive component is thymoquinone, an alkaloid, monotherpenoid compound, that seems to be the key of medical benefits of N. sativa. Experimental medicine proved that seeds of black cumin have health enhancement and pharmaceutical effects, being used in various disseases (cardiac, digestive and respiratory diseases; hepatic and renal tonic; inflammations; reproductive and neural disorders, analgesic; appetite stimulant; cancer prevention and treatment; spasmolytic and diabetes. Seeds (as powder, oil or hydro, alcoholic extracts) have been demonstrated that have antimicrobial, antiparasitic, antitumoral, antidiabetic, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory action. N. sativa is easy to cultivate, storing, and offering diver potential of use as seed, seed oil, different type of seed extracts

Rabbits in vivo experiments and hematological evaluation after iron toxicity

Iron is essential elements for human, animals and plant organism. The depletion of organism in iron leads to modification in the concentration of hemoglobin which is responsible for oxygen transportation. Also, overload of iron represents a possible intoxication that can affect negatively the liver tissue and then all cells. Our experiments was conducted on two groups (control and experimental) of rabbits – German Lop Eared Rabbits breed, and we administrated ferrous gluconate (10mg/kg body weight) to the experimental group, two times. Also, during the experiment the rabbits had a special diet with plants from garden administrated fresh. The plants have very good antioxidant properties, and can prevent the iron intoxication and also participate intense to detoxification of the liver after iron overload. Hematological analysis were preformed for red blood cells, hemoglobin, hematocrit, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, red cell distribution width, platelet and leukocyte evaluation. The results demonstrated a very good protective action of the diet plants, meaning that the hematological parameters were not out of normal range after iron overload

Koncentracija kortizola, insulinu sličnog faktora rasta-I i imunoglobulina G-klase u krvi neonatalne teladi različite telesne mase na rođenju

The objective of this work was to examine whether concentrations of cortisol, insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and immunoglobulin G class (IgG), in fact blood parameters which are believed to be of extreme importance in the postnatal survival of calves, are dependant on the body mass of calves at birth. Investigations were performed on 12 newborn calves of the Holstein-Friesian breed, placed into two groups on the grounds of their body mass at birth. The first group (n=6) comprised calves whose body mass was more than 35 kg at birth (41.67±3.08 kg), while the second group (n=6) comprised calves whose body mass at birth was less than 35 kg (32.00±3.58 kg). Blood samples were taken immediately preceding the consuming of colostrum, as well as at 32 hours of neonatal life. Cortisol and IGF-I concentrations were determined in blood serum samples taken immediately before colostrum consumption, while IgG concentration was determined in the samples taken 32 hours after the birth of the calves. The cortisol concentration in calves born with a greater body mass (61.51±32.78 nmol/l) was lower (p=0.052) than in calves born with a smaller body mass (94.89±17.74 nmol/l). A significant negative correlation (r= -0.592; p lt 0.05) was established between the body mass of calves at birth and the cortisol concentration. The IGF-I concentration determined immediately following birth in calves with a greater boy mass at birth (10.17±1.71 nmol/l) was statistically significantly higher (p lt 0.05) in comparison with calves born with a smaller body mass (7.04±1.15 nmol/l). There was a significant positive correlation (r = 0.519; p lt 0.10) between the body mass of calves at birth and the IGF-I concentration. Thirty-two hours following birth, the IgG concentration in blood serum of calves born with a bigger body mass (18.72±1.99 g/l) was significantly higher (p lt 0.05) than in calves born with a smaller body mass (11.68±4.79 g/l). A significant positive correlation was established between the body mass of calves at birth and the IgG concentration determined at 32 hours of neonatal life (r = 0.620; p lt 0.05). The obtained results point to the conclusion that calves of body mass over 35 kg at birth are better adapted to the conditions of the outer environment in comparison with calves born with a body mass of less than 35 kg. .Cilj ovog rada je da se ispita da li koncentracije kortizola, insulinusličnog faktora rasta-I (IGF-I) i imunoglobulina klase G (IgG), odnosno parametara krvi za koje se smatra da su izuzetno značajni za postnatalni opstanak teladi, zavise od telesne mase teladi na rođenju. Ispitivanja su izvršena na 12 novorođenih teladi Holštajn-Frizijske rase, razdvojenih u dve grupe na osnovu telesne mase na rođenju. U prvu grupu (n=6) svrstana su telad čija je telesna masa bila veća od 35 kg na rođenju (41,67±3,08 kg), dok su u drugu grupu (n=6) svrstana telad čija je telesna masa na rođenju bila manja od 35 kg (32,00±3,58kg). Neposredno pre napajanja kolostrumom, kao i 32. sata neonatalnog života, uzeti su uzorci krvi. U uzorcima krvnog seruma uzetim neposredno pre napajanja kolostrumom određivana je koncentracija kortizola i IGF-I, dok je u uzorcima uzetim 32 sata nakon rođenja teladi određivana koncentracija IgG. Koncentracija kortizola kod teladi rođene sa većom telesnom masom (61,51±32,78 nmol/l) je bila niža (p= 0,052) nego kod teladi rođenih sa nižom telesnom masom (94,89± 17,74 nmol/l). Utvrđena je značajna negativna korelacija (r=-0,592; p lt 0,05) između telesne mase teladi na rođenju i koncentracije kortizola. Koncentracija IGF-I određena neposredno nakon rođenja kod teladi sa većom telesnom masom na rođenju (10,17±1,71 nmol/l) bila je statistički značajno veća (p lt 0,05) u odnosu na telad rođenu sa nižom telesnom masom (7,04±1,15 nmol/l). Postojala je značajna pozitivna korelacija (r=0,519; p lt 0,10), između telesne mase teladi na rođenju i koncentracije IGF-I. Trideset dva sata nakon rođenja koncentracija IgG u krvnom serumu teladi rođene sa višom telesnom masom (18,72± 1,99 g/l) je bila značajno viša (p lt 0,05) nego kod teladi rođene sa nižom telesnom masom (11,68±4,79 g/l). Utvrđena je značajna pozitivna korelacija između telesne mase teladi na rođenju i koncentracije IgG određene trideset i drugog sata neonatalnog života (r=0,620; p lt 0,05). Dobijeni rezultati upućuju na zaključak da su telad telesne mase preko 35 kg na rođenju bolje adaptirana na uslove spoljašnje sredine u odnosu na telad koja su rođena sa telesnom masom manjom od 35 kilograma.

Flame atomic absorption spectroscopy in mineral analysis of barley from Banat area

Barley as a cereal grain is very important for animal and human nutrition, being also used in food products technology for fermented or distillated beverages. It has very good nutritional properties for animals and human, being the forth ranks in cultivation and quantity production in the world. The flame atomic absorption spectroscopy (FAAS) is an analysis method for metals, but the laboratory procedure is essential for the final result. Our goal was to analysis the barley content from Banat area with FAAS method using direct determination from the solution after digestion and using a diluted solution. The direct determination for copper content in barley (in mg/Kg, presented as mean and SD) was 4.146±0.205; iron content was 25.657±0.583; manganese determination was 10.391±0.192 and zinc content was 17.911±0.565. The quantity of metals (in mg/Kg, presented as mean and SD) from diluted (5x) samples for copper was 4.463±0.403; for iron was 26.821±1.083; for manganese was 11.136±0.444; for zinc was 18.731±0.665. Comparative evaluation of the mineral content for copper, iron, manganese and zinc showed that the quantitative analysis of five times diluted samples present higher values for all analyzed minerals comparative with direct determination

Comparative relations between progesterone blood concentration and appearance of oestrus in cows

The timely detection of oestrus presents an important professional procedure with which cattle farmers, in addition to veterinarians, are very often faced, because failure to detect oestrus poses a big economic problem. The objective of this work is to evaluate the efficacy of discovering oestrus in cows by determining the progesterone concentration (P4) in blood plasma. This experiment covered 22 animals, including 15 cows and 7 heifers, in which spontaneous oestrus was discovered. P4 concentration was determined using the ELISA test in samples of blood taken from the animals at the moment of insemination. Of the 15 cows, four cows (26.6%) were not inseminated at the optimal time, and the P4 level in these animals was higher than 1 ng/ml. All the heifers showed a progesterone concentration of over 1 ng/ml, and a percentage of conception which was 85%. The high P4 level in heifers at the moment of insemination could also be a consequence of stress caused by the regrouping and separating of the animals. Even though the heifers were under stress, which is indicated by the high progesteronemia values at the moment of insemination, the percentage of conception among them was beyond expectations. Therefore, the determination of P4 values at the moment of insemination is a suitable method for improving reproduction management on cattle farms. Inappropriate treatment of cows which are expected to show oestrus can cause stress and an increase in the values of the blood concentration of P4. On the grounds of the results obtained in this work, no negative influence of stress on the insemination results in heifers was observed

Utilization of Rosmarinic and Ascorbic Acids for Maturation Culture Media in Order to Increase Sow Oocyte Quality Prior to IVF

The beneficial effect of antioxidant supplementation in maturation culture media of sow oocytes was evaluated by the expression quantification of apoptotic genes and the genes that ensure stability of germ cells during fertilization. The oocytes were cultivated for 44 h in conventional medium (C) or in medium supplemented with 105 &micro;M rosmarinic acid (R) and 0.5 mM ascorbic acid (A) and classified into three quality classes by morphological observation from which the total RNA was isolated. The gene expression of Ptx3 and the apoptotic regulator p53, Bax and BCL-2 were evaluated by quantitative PCR technique. The decreased expression of the Bax gene in the A and R groups, compared to the control, indicates a protective role of antioxidants in the cells. Cell homeostasis was maintained, as reflected in the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2 in class I COCs (cumulus-oocyte complex) regardless of the experimental group, indicating minimum cellular stress. The expression of p53 genes was higher in all class III COC, but in A1 and R1 the expression was lower than in C1, and a similar Ptx-3 gene decreased significantly in groups A1, A2, A3 and R1 compared with control groups. Antioxidant supplementation showed beneficial effects on all morphological classes of pig COCs