Volume of luteal tissue and concentration of serum progesterone in cows bearing homogeneous corpus luteum or corpus luteum with cavity.

Ultrasonographical examinations of ovarian structures were performed in 27 inseminated cows at estrus days and on days 4, 9, 20, 25, 30, and 40 after ovulation. Three cows were used twice. Corpora lutea (CLs) with a cavity were compared with homogeneous CLs. in pregnant and nonpregnant cows. Diameters and volumes of CLs and cavities, as well as volumes of luteal tissue and concentrations of serum progesterone were determined. The volumes of the structures were calculated using a mathematical formula for a rotary ellipsoid. Homogeneous CLs and CLs with a cavity and their luteal tissue reached a maximum volume in nonpregnant and pregnant cows on day 9 after ovulation. At this time, CLs volumes were 7.52 +/- 3.14 (homogeneous CLs, n = 4) and 4.54 cm3 (CLs with a cavity, n = 1) in nonpregnant cows, and 6.05 +/- 1.71 (homogeneous CLs, n = 10) and 9.54 +/- 2.67 cm3 (CLs with a cavity, n = 15) in pregnant cows. The volumes of luteal tissue were 7.52 +/- 3.14 and 4.33 cm in nonpregnant cows and 6.05 +/- 1.71 and 8.62 +/- 3.46 cm3 in pregnant cows. Concentrations of progesterone in peripheral blood in pregnant cows bearing a homogeneous CLs or CLs with a cavity on day 9 were 3.15 +/- 0.69 ng ml-1 and 4.12 +/- 1.28 ng ml-1, respectively. The concentrations of progesterone were higher in pregnant cows in comparison with nonpregnant cows. CLs with a cavity in pregnant cows contained a higher volume of luteal tissue and higher secretory activity compared to homogeneous.

[Metabolic profile in cows in the peripartum period with and without retained placenta]. / Metabolický profil v peripartálním období u krav bez retence a s retencí sekundin.

Blood samples were taken and subjected to biochemical analysis in the crossbred cows of the Red-Pied, Black-Pied or Holstein-Friesian breed raised on a large farm under standard conditions, with the average annual milk yield of 4,300 kg milk, and divided into two groups--cows with afterbirth retention and without it; the samples were taken in the last period of pregnancy (since day 245), during parturition, and within the first 50 days post partum. In both groups, the values of acid-base balance and metabolic profile mostly ranged within the interval of reference values, nevertheless there were certain trends and differences in absolute values as well as in the dynamics of changes, but they did not always show a doubtless character and the same significance. The cows with afterbirth retention exhibited a trend of a more expressive decrease in partial pressure CO2, actual acid output and phosphorus level. Glucose level at the end of pregnancy was statistically significantly lower (P < 0.01), cholesterol level also decreased (P < 0.05). On the other hand, the cows with afterbirth retention had, at the end of pregnancy, statistically significantly higher concentrations of urea and creatinine (P < 0.05-0.01), a higher bilirubin level and enzyme activities of acid phosphatase, and particularly of aspartate aminotransferase and lactate dehydrogenase (P < 0.05-0.01). There were insignificant differences in the concentrations of total protein, calcium, magnesium and enzyme activity of alkaline phosphatase and gammaglutamyl transferase.

[The ovarian response and conception rate in cows during experimental nitrate loading]. / Ovariální odpoved a koncepcní schopnost krav pri experimentální zátezi dusicnany.

The effects of potassium nitrate were investigated on ovarian activity, especially on ovarian activity, especially on follicle ripening and ovulation, conception rate and progesterone levels in the milk of cows with cloprostenol-induced oestrus (Oestrophan Spofa) at a rate of 500 micrograms i.m. Potassium nitrate was administered at an amount of 150 g per head/day, and this amount increased by 50 g every other fortnight to the total rate of 300 g per head/day. In a group of 11 cows exposed to potassium nitrate load, clinical examination of ovaries on day 8 after oestrus revealed the presence of CL in seven cows (63.6%), persisting follicles in two cows, and two cows did not have any CL or follicles (Tab. I). After the first insemination three cows got in calf (27.3%), and after all inseminations it was 10 cows in total (90.9%) on average in 24.4 days after cloprostenol administration, with SP 96.7 days and insemination index 1.7. No ovulation disorders were found in the control group. All five cows got in calf after the first insemination in three days after cloprostenol administration with SP 61.5 days and insemination index 1.0 (Tab. II). The progesterone levels in milk were 22.3 and 21.1 ng/ml before the second administration of cloprostenol, 2.7 and 2.1 ng/ml in oestrus and at the time of A.I., and 16.6 in eight days after insemination in cows exposed to nitrate load, and finally 21.7 ng/ml in the control group (Tab. III). Ovulation disorders were easily detectable by a clinical check of ovaries on day 8 after oestrus.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Early sonographic diagnosis of twin pregnancy in mares and its reduction to a single pregnancy]. / Zur Frühdiagnostik einer Zwillingsgravidität bei Stuten mittels Sonographie und deren Reduktion auf eine Einlingsgravidität.

The frequency of double ovulation and the chances of twin pregnancy in the mare are presented with reference to the relevant literature. A novel manual technique for reducing the embryo number from two to one is introduced and illustrated by ultrasonographic images.

[The ovarian response and fertility in cows with acidosis induced by acetic acid]. / Ovariální odpoved a koncepcní schopnost krav pri acidóze vyvolané kyselinou octovou.

The effects of acetic acid administered at an amount of 300 to 600 g (5 to 10 mol) to the rumen of breeding cows, were investigated on ovulation, conception and progesterone levels in the blood and milk of cows with cloprostenol-induced (Oestrophan Spofa) oestrus at a dose of 500 micrograms i.m. In the group of 15 cows exposed to the acetic acid load five cows got in calf after the first insemination (33.3%), and 12 cows (80.0%) after all inseminations in 37.6 days after cloprostenol administration, with the insemination index 1.67 (Tab. I). In the control group (five cows) four cows (80.0%) got in calf after the first insemination, in total all five breeding cows got in calf in 20.6 days after cloprostenol administration, with the insemination index 1.2. In the experimental group of 15 cows a clinical examination of ovaries on day 7 after insemination revealed ovulation disorders in eight cows, that means in 53.3% of the animals (Tab. II). No ovulation disorders were observed in the control group of five cows. Progesterone levels in the blood showed high variability (Tab. III). In the group of cows administered acetic acid they were by more than a half lower (1.49; 0.67; 1.53 per ml) on days 7, 14 and 21 after insemination in comparison with the control group (3.35; 2.5; 3.38 ng per ml). The average progesterone levels in milk (Tab. IV) were 1.27 and 1.53 on day 7, 6.74 and 7.27 on day 14 and 3.52 and 11.85 ng per ml on day 21, respectively, the higher values apply to the control. It was not possible to evaluate reliably from the progesterone levels in the blood and milk if ovulation took place and if the corpus luteum was developing (Tab. V and VI). The clinical control of ovaries on days 7 and 8 after oestrus and insemination was more reliable to determine the ovulation disorders than the progesterone determination in the blood and milk of cows.

[Microscopic changes in intercaruncular endometrium and ovarian follicles in cows 35 days after parturition]. / Mikroskopické zmeny v interkarunkulárním endometriu a ovariálních folikulech u krav v prubehu 35 dnu po porodu.

Surface epithelium of intercaruncular endometrium in pluriparous cows, crossbreds of Bohemian Pied cattle with Holstein-Friesian cattle, was not coherent until day 15 after parturition, with a variable height of cells (16-64 microns). Oedematous nature of lamina propria was subsiding gradually. From day 15 to day 20 after parturition the cell height of coherent surface epithelium and uterine glands became equable and stabilized (16-32 microns), and the lamina propria assumed its cellular nature with marked infiltration of polymorphonuclears and lymphocytes. Noticeable symptoms of atresia were demonstrated to occur more frequently in ovaries in the follicular population until day 15 after parturition. From day 10 to day 25 after parturition an increasing occurrence of luteinized follicles with diameters of maximally 3 mm was demonstrated.

[Biochemical changes in the peripheral blood in cows 45 days after parturition]. / Biochemické zmeny v periferní krvi krav v prubehu 45 dnu po porodu.

Blood samples were collected from v. jugularis in five-day intervals from parturition to postpartum day 45 in the rearing conditions of a dairy cow production herd, consisting of 10 groups with 10 pluriparous cows each (crossbreds of Bohemian Pied cattle with Holstein-Friesian cattle). In blood serum the following activities were determined photometrically: aspartate aminotransferase--AST (0.36-0.47 mukat.l-1), gamma-glutamyl transferase--GMT (0.50-0.83 mukat.l-1) and lactate dehydrogenase--LD (7.22-9.10 mukat.l-1); their average values were at an almost constant level. Only did AST and GMT values decrease slightly from day 25 after parturition. The glucose average content on the day of parturition (4.07 mmol.l-1) steeply decreased to postpartum day 5 (2.79 mmol.l-1), and later on, it increased irregularly. The average values of total protein (66.7-73.2 g per 1) slightly increased from postpartum day 20. The values of urea (2.33-2.37 mmol.l-1) and bilirubin (3.49-5.15 mmol.l-1) did not show any larger changes in dependence on the time elapsing from parturition. The average content of creatinine (124-162 mmol.l-1) increased irregularly from postpartum day 15 and then it decreased. Cholesterol concentrations were gradually increasing from 2.58 mmol.l-1 on the day of parturition to 4.99 mmol.l-1 on day 45 after parturition. The average contents of calcium (2.20-2.66 mmol.l-1) and phosphorus (1.75-2.27 mmol.l-1) were irregularly increasing until day 20 after parturition. Also the average content of magnesium (0.86-1.15 mmol.l-1) rose from day 25 after parturition.

[Chemical contamination of the cervical mucus in cows in relation to pregnancy and age factors]. / Kontaminace cervikálního hlenu krav chemickými prvky ve vztahu ke koncepci a veku.

Applying the method of absorption atom spectrometry (AAS), the contamination of cervical mucus by chemical elements (Cd, Pb, Hg, Cr, Cu, Zn) was demonstrated in the oestrus period of cows in different ecological agricultural regions of the North Moravian region. The results of observation revealed only a statistically significant difference (P less than 0.05) in Cd contents in the test groups; test group mean = 0.015 micrograms.g-1 Cd, control group mean = 0.006 micrograms.g-1. Cr findings in cervical mucus are of priority importance, the same applies to Cu findings. Zinc was found to be an element influencing negatively the conception of cows. The Zn values in cervical mucus of nonpregnant cows were demonstrated to be significantly higher (P less than 0.01) (conception--group = 0.841 micrograms.g-1, conception + group = 0.219 micrograms.g-1 Zn. So called sum of chemical elements: Cd + Pb + Hg + Cr + Cu + Zn was proposed and evaluated as a picture of the total contamination of cervical mucus. This characteristic was also influenced by the Zn findings in the group of pregnant and nonpregnant cows. Zn: Cd antagonism in cervical secretions of barren and pregnant cows was statistically highly significant (P less than 0.01). Chemical elements in cervical mucus were determined for the first time in a digested sample of cervical secretion. The correlation coefficients used for the cows (n = 99) from a contaminated region showed that the content of chemical elements in cervical secretion was not influenced by the age of cows. The content of chemical elements in cervical secretion was not increasing with the age.

[Relation between cervical mucus sperm toxicity and pregnancy in cows]. / Vztah spermiotoxicity cervikálního hlenu krav ke koncepci.

Cervical secretion was collected from 99 dairy cows of the Black Pied Lowland breed at an age of 24 to 109 months with a minimum performance of 4000 kg of milk annually in spontaneous oestrus 42 days post partum at the minimum. It was demonstrated by the radioimmunological determination of progesterone in skim milk that from all the breeding cows (n = 99) the oestral secretion was collected during an optimum insemination time (x = 0.19 ng.ml-1 progesterone). Of the statistical set of 99 cows, 55 (i.e. 56.57%) got in calf and 43 (i.e. 43.43%) remained barren. As found, the conception results were not influenced by the rank of the insemination after parturition and the conception capacity of the cows was not influenced by the length of time from parturition to the respective inseminations. It was demonstrated in our investigation that the conception capacity of the cows increases as the time of sperm survival prolongs in the cervical secretion in vitro. The highest conception capacity (80%) was recorded in the cows whose cervical secretion was free of spermiotoxic action. In such cases the motility of the spermatozoa in the oestral mucus was maintained at a temperature of 38 degrees C for longer than 300 minutes. On the other hand, it was demonstrated that the conception capacity of the cows declines with shortening time of sperm survival in the cervical mucus.

[Toxic elements in the sex organs of the cow and their relationship to fertility]. / Toxische Elemente im Geschlechtsapparat der Kühe und ihr Zusammenhang mit der Fruchtbarkeit.

The content of heavy metals (Cd, Hg, Pb, Cr, Cu and Zn) has been determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry in parts of genital organs of cows with and without reproductive disorders, in blood, in placenta, in colostrum, and in the calf blood. The samples were collected in an industrially polluted area and in a relatively non-polluted area. It has been proven in the group of 99 cows that the biological quality of the oestrous cervical mucus is also influenced by toxic elements. The best conception rate after the artificial insemination (80.0%) has been found in cows with the cervical mucus without spermiotoxic properties. The genital organs of 49 cows culled because of reproductive disorders were examined. No significant differences in the content of heavy metals have been found in the separate parts of genital organs. There were also no differences between the cows with and without reproductive disorders. Toxic elements in blood have been found in cows after parturition and in newborn calves both in the polluted and the non-polluted areas. However, significant differences (p less than 0.01) were determined only in the content of Cd and Zn. The average content of all determined toxic elements in the samples of placenta in pluriparous and primiparous cows from the polluted and non-polluted areas was approximately at the same level. The content of Zn was 4.3 times higher than the hygienic standard in the colostrum of cows from the polluted area. The content of Zn exceeded the hygienic standard also in the non-polluted area, and the content of Cd and Hg was close to the hygienic standard there.

[Levels of toxic elements--Cd, Pb, Hg, Cr, Cu, Zn--in the blood and placenta of cows during parturition and in newborn calves]. / Obsah toxických prvku--Cd, Pb, Hg, Cr, Cu, Zn--v krvi a placente krav v dobe porodu a u narozenych telat.

It was demonstrated that mother's blood and the blood of new-born calves were contaminated by toxic elements in exposed and non-exposed area. The average Cd and Zn levels differed at high statistical significance (P less than 0.01) in the mothers blood from non-exposed regions in comparison with the average Cd and Zn levels from exposed region. The average residues of toxic elements in breeding cows placenta from the exposed and non-exposed regions were not statistically different. The average Zn content in new-born calves from non-exposed regions differ highly statistically significantly in comparison with the average Zn content in the blood of new-born calves from heifers of the exposed region. The transplacental ratio (TPx) of a toxic element in cow placenta during parturition was expressed from the average ratio of toxic element content in mother's blood: toxic element content in placenta: the toxic element content in blood of newborn calf, while the content of toxic element in mother's blood during parturition was expressed by a value equal to one. TPx in parturition period was expressed by mathematical formula TPx = 1 : Xp : Xk, where Xp = toxic element content in placenta, Xk = content of the toxic element in blood of new-born calf. TPPb, Hg, Cr, Cu, Zn values were not statistically different between the groups of breeding cows from exposed and non-exposed regions. TPCd in the group comprising 14 first-calves from the exposed region (TPCd = 1:0.89:2.59 in comparison with TPCd of six cows from non-exposed region, where TPCd = 1:0.29: 0.70;, differed statistically highly significantly (P less than .01). High statistical differences (P, less than 01) TPCd between these groups were explicitly affected highly statistically significantly (P less than .01) by different average Cd content in the blood of fourteen first-calves, compared with the average Cd content in blood of six cows from non-exposed region, in which the Cd value in blood during parturition was higher by 10(-1).

[The adenohypophyseal response and effect of GnRh (Dirigestran inj. Spofa) administration in cows in the postpartum period]. / Responze adenohypofýzy a úcinnost aplikace syntetického GnRH (Dirigestran inj. Spofa) u krav post partum.

Radioimmunological investigation (RIA) of the level of pituitary FSH in the peripheral blood of cows after parturition demonstrated that this level increased successively. The FSH value of 32.93 +/- 3.71 ng per 1 ml, recorded the fourth to sixth day post partum, increased to as much as 57.78 +/- 40.98 ng per 1 ml 40 days after parturition. The LH level changed only slightly over the same period (from 1.12 +/- 0.21 ng per ml to 1.72 +/- 1.15 ng per ml). The concentration of progesterone in the blood of the cows was about 0.40 ng per ml during the first 15 days after parturition, but from the 25th day post partum it trebled, on an average (1.53 +/- 1.19 - 1.59 +/- 1.25 ng per ml). The response of the adenohypophysis of the cows to the administration of 200 micrograms of synthetic gonadoreline (spec. Dirigestran inj. Spofa) increased with increasing length of time from parturition. FSH concentration increased less markedly during the first 28 days p.p. and this increase was not uniform in time (the average increase was 1.5 to three times); in the later period the highest increase 300-500% was recorded, as a rule, 120 minutes after GnRH administration. The situation was similar in the increase in LH concentration in peripheral blood, but after the 26th day post partum the average increase in LH accounted for 500 to 600%. The concentration of progesterone in peripheral blood increased by more than 300%, on an average, from the 25th day after parturition. This testifies to the first post partum ovulation and to the formation of a new yellow body in the majority of cows under study.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Clinical evaluation of ketone bodies in body fluids of cows in late pregnancy and their fetuses.

Ketone body concentrations were determined in six body fluids of cows in late pregnancy and their fetuses (blood plasma and urine of cows, amniotic and allantoic fetal fluids, and fetal blood serum and urine) using the head-space gas chromatographic method. Physiological ratios O/T% of oxidized (acetone and acetoacetic acid) to total (acetone, isopropanol, acetoacetic and 3-hydroxybutyric acid) ketone bodies were below 10% in cow blood plasma and urine, fetal serum and urine, and allantoic fluid, and below 20% in amniotic fluid. A scheme for the evaluation of the degree and duration of ketosis based on the O/T% ratio is proposed. The existence of a renal regulatory mechanism for excretion of ketone bodies is suggested by analogy with the renal acidobasic regulation.

[Metabolic profile of newborn calves and levels of immunoglobulins in the first days of life]. / Metabolický profil u nove narozených telat a hladina imunoglobulinu v prvních dnech jejich zivota.

After examination of the clinical state of 128 new-born calves, blood was collected from their vena jugularis for the determination of blood actual pH value, concentration of lactic acid, pCO2, base excess, buffer base and standard acid bicarbonate. The course and difficulty of parturition exerted a significant influence on the vitality of the calves and on the studied parameters of acid-base state. In the normally born calves, compared with those after dystocia, the following values were obtained: pH 7.20 +/- 0.03 : 7.11 +/- 0.07, pCO2 = 8.4 +/- 0.9 : 10.0 +/- 1.1 kPa, base excess -2.30 +/- 2.10 : 5.80 +/- 4.60 mmol/l, buffer base 43.0 +/- 2.4 : 39.5 +/- 6.5 mmol/l, standard acid bicarbonate 22.3 +/- 1.8 : 19.6 +/- 4.1 mmol/l and lactic acid concentration 5.6 +/- 2.0 : 10.7 +/- 5.1 mmol/l. The differences were statistically significant (P less than 0.05) and statistically highly significant (P less than 0.01). The continual study of the blood actual pH value and lactic acid concentration in the calves in the first 24 hours of life showed that with the same trend of changes in calves after dystocia the initial values were less favourable and that their normalization lasted longer. Attention is drawn to the importance of dystocia for the rise of respiratory metabolic acidosis and its effect on the vitality of newborn calves, and/or on their survival. The discussion deals with the importance of immunoglobulin levels in calves in the first days after birth for their further development. The determination of antibody content in colostral serum from the first milking in 33 and 29 cows on two farms showed great drawbacks in quality. A satisfactory level of IgG was found only in 36.36% and 58.62% of the cows, and a satisfactory level of IgM only in 12.12% and 24.13% of the studied cows. The determination of immunoglobulin content in their calves two to three days from birth (33 + 33 animals) showed normoglobulinemia only in 24.24% and 15.15% of cases. In 33 and 29 cows on two farms the colostrum serum from the first milking had an average content of immunoglobulins of class G amounting to 27.99 +/- 20.25 mg/ml and 36.95 +/- 21.62 mg/ml, and class M amounting to 3.64 +/- 1.25 and 2.04 +/- 1.42 mg/ml. Three days from birth, their calves had an IgG content of 4.25 +/- 2.57 mg/ml and 3.99 +/- 1.86 mg/ml and an IgM content of 0.30 +/- 0.20 and 6.38 +/- 0.25 mg/ml.

[Levels of some minerals, glucose and vitamin A in the blood serum of sows during puerperium under large-scale breeding conditions]. / Hladina nekterých minerálií, glukózy a vitamínu A v krevním séru prasnic behem puerperia v podmínkách velkochovu

A partial chemical analysis of the blood serum of 293 suckling sows kept under typical large-scale production conditions were performed; the sows were divided into groups according to the individual days of puerperium. The calcium content was 8.23 +/- 1.53 mg per 100 ml of serum on the first day post partum, later on it increased slightly and it was highest on the 16th and 22nd day p. p., i.e. 10.22 +/- 1.80 and 9.77 +/- 1.51 mg per 100 ml, respectively. The increase was statistically significant on the 18th day p.p., and later on it was slightly statistically significant (P less than 0.1). Since the second week, the phosphorus content had dropped from the value of 4.10 +/- 0.63 mg per 100 ml on the 1st day p. p., and it mostly ranged below 4 mg per 100 ml, the average being 3.86 mg per 100 ml; the differences were not statistically significant (P greater than 0.1). The magnesium content raised from 1.75 +/- 0.43 mg per 100 ml on the first day p. p. to 2.50 +/- 0.56 mg per 100 ml on the fifth day; it remained higher for the whole puerperium. The differences were statistically highly to slightly significant (P less than 0.01 - P less than 0.01). The changes of the glucose content were irregular, within a relatively small range (86.52 +/- 16.79 to 115.92 +/- 26.70 mg per 100 ml of serum). The average value was 97.76 mg per 100 ml of serum and the differences obtained were statistically insignificant (P greater than 0.01). The vitamin A content amounted to 29.57 +/- 10.16 mcg per 100 ml on the first day; later on it increased up to 47.51 +/- 15.19 mcg per 100 ml on the 22nd day p.p. The increase since the 10th day and later on was statistically significant (P less than 0.05--P greater than 0.01).

[Changes in the blood picture during puerperium of Czech white-breed sows under large-scale breeding conditions]. / Zmeny v krevním obraze behem puerperia u prasnic ceského bílého plemene chovaných ve velkovýrobních podmínkách

A dynamics of the changes of the red and while blood cell count during puerperium (1st-27th day post partum) was studied in 293 sows of the Czech White breed kept in typical large-scale production conditions. An average count of erythrocytes amounted to 5 513 000 +/- 385 514. In the course of puerperium their count slightly decreased in comparison with the value obtained on the first day p. p. (on the 10th day p. p. the decrease was even highly statistically significant - P less than 0.01). An average amount of hemoglobin was 12.48 +/- 1.22 g per 100 ml of blood; in the course of the nearly whole of puerperium it was slightly higher than on the first day p. p. (in the third week on the threshold of the statistical significance up to the statistical significance - P less than 0.10-0.05-0.01). The value of hematocrit did not fluctuate (average = 38.65 +/- 3.89%), sedimentation slowed down, especially from the end of the second week p. p. The protein of the blood plasma amounted, on an average, to 7.71 +/- 0.84 g per 100 ml; the protein content raised during puerperium in comparison to the 1st day .p. An average count of leukocytes during puerperium was in comparison to the 1st day p.p. An average count of leukocytes during puerperium 12 755 +/- 1529, and it slightly increased in relation to the 1st day p. p. The percentage of neutrophile granulocytes and lymphocytes did not change very much; it reached 46%: 45%. The character of the sow blood during puerperium fluctuated all the time between neutrophile and lymphocytic type with a slight tendency to the prevalence of neutrophile granulocytes. Nevertheless, the proportion of neutrophile granulocytes with rodlike nuclei decreased, and on the other hand, the proportion of neutrophile granulocytes with segmented nuclei increased (a nucleus shift to the right). Original values and ratio of the first day p. p. (T = 6.91%: Seg = 41.13%) changed in the average value of T = 1.93%: Seg = 43.96% during the whole puerperium.