THE EFFECT OF A SUPPLEMENT OF CHROMIUM (PICOLINATE) ON THE LEVEL OF BLOOD GLUCOSE, INSULIN ACTIVITY AND CHANGES IN LABORATORY EVALUATION OF THE EJACULATE OF BREEDING BOARS

Abstract HORKÝ, P., JANČÍKOVÁ, P., ZEMAN, L.: The eff ect of a supplement of chromium (picolinate) on the level of blood glucose, insulin activity and changes in laboratory evaluation of the ejaculate of breeding boars. Acta univ. agric. et silvic. Mendel. Brun., 2012, LX, No. 1, pp. 49-56 The experiment was based on feeding the organic form of chromium (picolinate) and the assessment of its eff ect on the level of blood glucose, insulin activity and changes in the laboratory values of the ejaculate (sperm motility, ejaculate volume, sperm concentration and per cent of pathological sperm) in breeding boars. The experiment involved 40 boars divided into two equal groups. Boars of the experimental group (n = 21) received 181.81 μg of chromium per kg of feed ration (FR) administered perorally, in the control group (n = 19) chromium intake was not increased. The chromium supplement signifi cantly (P < 0.05) increased cell absorption of blood glucose in the experimental group of boars as against the control group. There was no diff erence in insulin activity between the two groups. Changes in laboratory values of the ejaculate were evaluated and no signifi cant diff erences were discovered in any of the parameters. During the experiment the sperm concentration and motility were absolutely the same in boars of both groups; it can therefore be concluded that increasing the level of chromium in the feed ration of boars of the experimental group had no direct eff ect on these parameters. It was the same in the case of the ejaculate volume which gradually decreased between periods 1 and 4, in boars receiving chromium by 12.8 % and in the control group by 8.1 %. The benefi cial eff ect of chromium was seen in the reduced count of pathological sperm in boars in periods 3 and 4 of tests as against boars of the control group. In spite of the considerable 26.3 % diff erence between the groups this decrease was not statistically signifi cant. Data evaluation revealed a signifi cant correlation (P < 0.01) between the number of samplings per boar and sperm concentration. A correlation (P < 0.05) was also detected between the ejaculate volume and sperm concentration boar, ejaculate, blood, chromium, picolinate, glucos

In situ and low-cost monitoring of particles falling from freshwater animals: from microplastics to parasites

A simple and low-cost method of monitoring and collecting particulate matter detaching from (or interacting with) aquatic animals is described using a novel device based on an airlift pump principle applied to floating cages. The efficiency of the technique in particle collection is demonstrated using polyethylene microspheres interacting with a cyprinid fish (Carassius carassius) and a temporarily parasitic stage (glochidia) of an endangered freshwater mussel (Margaritifera margaritifera) dropping from experimentally infested host fish (Salmo trutta). The technique enables the monitoring of temporal dynamics of particle detachment and their continuous collection both in the laboratory and in situ, allowing the experimental animals to be kept under natural water quality regimes and reducing the need for handling and transport. The technique can improve the representativeness of current experimental methods used in the fields of environmental parasitology, animal feeding ecology and microplastic pathway studies in aquatic environments. In particular, it makes it accessible to study the physiological compatibility of glochidia and their hosts, which is an essential but understudied autecological feature in mussel conservation programs worldwide. Field placement of the technique can also aid in outreach programs with pay-offs in the increase of scientific literacy of citizens concerning neglected issues such as the importance of fish hosts for the conservation of freshwater mussels.We thank Zbyněk Janči and Bohumil Dort for the help in the field, the nature conservation authorities for providing permits and access to the research area in Borová Lada and two anonymous reviewers for their helpful comments on an earlier draft. All experiments were in compliance with the current laws of the Czech Republic Act No. 246/1992 coll. on the protection of animals against cruelty

Small donors in world politics: The role of trust funds in the foreign aid policies of Central and Eastern European donors

The Central and Eastern European (CEE) EU member states have emerged as new donors of international development assistance since the turn of the millennium. The literature has tended to focus on the bilateral components of these policies, and neglected CEE multilateral aid. This paper contributes to filling this gap by examining how and why CEE donors contribute to trust funds operated by multilateral donors. The aim of the paper is twofold: First, it provides a descriptive account of how CEE countries use trust funds in the allocation of their foreign aid. Second, it explains this allocation using data from qualitative interviews with CEE officials. CEE countries make much less use of trust funds than might be expected. This is due not only to the loss of visibility and control over their resources, but also to how CEE companies and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) rarely achieve funding successes at multilateral organisations

The effect of various copper sources on the trace elements profile in the hair, plasma and feaces and copper aktivity in the organism of horses. Acta Universitatis Agriculturae et Silviculturae Mendelianae Brunensis, vol. 60, p. 145-151. [cit. 2014-14-11]

Abstract JANČÍKOVÁ, P., HORKÝ, P., ZEMAN, L.: The eff ect of various copper sources on the trace elements profi le in the hair, plasma and faeces and copper activity in the organism of horses. Acta univ. agric. et silvic. Mendel. Brun., 2012, LX, No. 6, pp. 145-15

Effect of peroral copper supplementation on selected haematological indicators of horses

The purpose of our work was to assess the impact of copper on selected haematological indicators of horse. The trial was performed at the Boudky – Velké Němčice farm. The total number of 23 mares was divided into three groups that were subjected to different mineral feeding modes. The experiment duration was 14 days and the blood samples were taken 1st, 7th and 14th day of experiment.The obtained results show that the enrichment of the horse feeding ration with copper changed the monitored haematological parameters values. Assessment of the changes of haematological indicators between individual trial groups fed with copper-enriched feed with the copper coming from different sources showed the best results in the group with the intake of copper in the inorganic form. This group showed a statistically significant (P < 0.01) increase in erythrocyte count (by 0.85 T.l−1) and haematocrit value (by 0.04 l.l−1) and a statistically significant (P < 0.05) change in haemoglobin level (increasing by 8.9 g.l−1) between initial and final blood sample. Although the group taking organic form of copper showed a significant (P < 0.01) increase in erythrocyte count and haematocrit value in the second blood sample comparing with initial one, the final sample did not corroborate this highly significant correlation. The control group showed no difference between the initial and final blood samples in any of the monitored parameters