Dorota Cygan-Szczegielniak

Blood plasma proteins and protein fractions in roe deer Capreolus capreolus L.

The aim of the research was to investigate some selected biochemical blood parameters in roe deer (Capreolus capreolus L.). The experiment covered 15 from 2 to 3-year-old bucks from Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship. The animals were shot by individual hunters on the shooting grounds during the hunting season of 2008/2009 (in the accordance with the Journal of Laws No 48). The material for the research was blood plasma obtained after centrifuging full, nonhemolyzed blood. The blood was collected from the zygomatic vein directly to the test tubes with EDTA and transported in cooling conditions to the laboratory. After transporting the samples of blood to a certified analytical laboratory, the following elements of the obtained blood plasma were examined: ceruloplasmin – using turbidimetric method; transferrin – using immunoturbimetric method; troponin- using a third generation assay on an Elecsys; total protein, albumin, globulin – using spectrophotometric method and total iron – using colorimetric method. The results were statistically analyzed, i.e. the correlation between the parameters was measured by means of Pearson’s correlation coefficient. The analysis of the results revealed a number of statistically significant relations between the parameters under the investigation, especially among the compounds directly responsible for metabolism of iron and copper. A statistically important positive correlation was observed between ceruloplasmin and ferritin (r = 0.563; P≤0.05) and a negative one between transferrin and troponin (r = -0.609; P≤0.05). Moreover, the content of transferrin – an iron-binding protein – was 0.17 g/l, while the concentration of iron was 58 μmol/l. The content of ceruloplasmin – a protein responsible for metabolism of copper – was very low (0.036 g/l). The level of proteins in the blood plasma of the animals under the research was approximately 72 g/l, with the share of albumins about 46%. The albumin-globulin ratio was 0.86.

Impact of the breeding region and the season on the content of the selected mineral elements in the hair of cows

The aim of the research was to analyze the effect of the season and the breeding region on the content of selected minerals (Ca, Mg, Na and K) in the hair of dairy cows. The research material was made up of 114 polish Holstein-Friesians breed cows from three breeding centres in Poland: Kombinat Rolny Sp. z o. o. - Kietrz (the opolskie province), Hodowla Zarodowa Zwierząt Sp. z o.o. - Knyszyn (the podlaskie province) and Ośrodek Hodowli Zarodowej Sp. z o.o. - Osieciny (the kujawskopomorskie province). The cows were kept in freestanding cowsheds with den boxes. The animal nutrition involved the use of the TMR system, considering the division into nutrition groups. The hair was sampled in summer and in the period of winter and spring from the side of the body, right behind the coastal arch. Determination of Ca, Mg, Na and K was performed by means of atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS). The study revealed seasonal variations in the content of mineral elements in the hair of dry cows and a region-dependent differentiation. The highest content of the quantity elements in question was found in the hair of the cows from Osieciny. The mean concentration of Ca, Mg, Na and K in the hair of cows from Osieciny was statistically significantly higher than in the hair collected in winter from the animals from Knyszyn and Kietrz. The lowest values of the determined elements were noted in the hair of cows bred in Knyszyn. The investigation of the correlation between the amounts of the elements, based on an analysis of all samples of hair, revealed a positive correlation between Na and K cations, as well as between Mg and Ca cations.

A comparison of blood buffering capacity in hibernators [Mesocricetus auratus] and non-hibernators [Mus musculus] acclimated to a cold and short photoperiod

Differences in blood buffering capacity and in blood glucose level homeostasis were examined in hibernators (golden hamsters) and non-hibernators (house mice) acclimated to a cold environment and short photoperiod. First, the pH and glucose levels were investigated in experimental animals maintained at a temperature of 22C and a 12:12 light-dark cycle (control group) and then after a two-week period of adaptation to low ambient temperature and short photoperiod (temperature of 10C and a 8:16 light-dark cycle) and additionally after 10 l of 10% lactic acid was added to 450 l of freshly collected blood samples. The pH of blood in cold acclimated animals decreased in comparison with control ones. In non-hibernators blood pH was significantly lower than in hibernators. The addition of lactic acid to blood samples results in a sharper drop of blood pH in non-hibernators than in hibernators. In control animals glucose levels didn’t differ significantly between non-hibernators and hibernators, whereas after the cold acclimation period glucose levels in non-hibernators and hibernators stabilized at virtually the same but lower level. The results of blood glucose level measurements clearly indicated that this level – 130 mg/dl is the regulated level of glucose in the blood of both groups of animals. An improved buffering capacity of the blood revealed in hibernators could be considered as an adaptation to alleviate potentially negative effects of both respiratory acidosis and metabolic acidosis which accompany entrance into hibernation and arousal from hibernation. In conclusion the differences in buffering ability of blood to the resistance of changes of pH due to the addition of acid, revealed for non-hibernators and hibernators, indicate better adaptation of hibernators subjected to cold to their life in this environment.