[The effect of postpartum blood collection on the health and liveweight development of calves and the use of neonatal calf serum (NCS) for the in vitro cultivation of mouse embryos]. / Der Einfluss der postpartalen Blutentnahme auf die Gesundheit und Lebendmasseentwicklung von Kälbern sowie die Verwendbarkeit des neonatalen Kälberserums (NKS) für die In-vitro-Kultivierung von Mäuseembryonen.

The influence of postpartal blood taking on health and growing of calves and the use of neonatal calf serum (NCS) for cultivation of mice embryos was investigated in 3 experiments with 134 calves. The results indicate, that the neonatal blood taking (max. 2 h p.p.) is without negative effects on health and growing of calves. It is possible to use the NCS like fetal calf serum (FCS) as additive in cultivation mediums for mice embryos. The utilization of NCS for cultivation of bovine embryos and for other laboratory purposes should be tested.

[Effect of visible light on transformability of lymphocytes in peripheral blood]. / Der Einfluss des sichtbaren Lichtes auf die Transformationsfähigkeit der Lymphozyten des peripheren Blutes.

Reported in this paper are the possible effects of different light regimes on the transformability of lymphocytes in calf blood. The following results were verified against the background of various indices, such as transformation rate, stimulation index, and lymphocyte number, following culturing with the lymphocyte transformation test and morphological evaluation: --The light regimes tested were natural light day, extremely long day with artificial light (24 hours of lighting, 75-100 lx), and divided artificial light day (seven hours light, five hours darkness, seven hours light, five hours darkness, 82-128 lx). The natural and extremely long artificial light days stimulated transformability of lymphocytes in calf blood. --The divided artificial light day tended to depress transformation of calf lymphocytes. Such light-dependent stimulation of lymphocyte transformability is interpreted as an improvement in defence of the animal organism in terms of an unspecific stimulation.

[Lymphocyte transformation test in the calf]. / Der Lymphozytentransformationstest beim Kalb.

Studies into the effects of the environment on health and performance of agricultural animals are of clear-cut relevance to farming practice. The theoretical and practical importance of lymphocyte transformation to any assessment of immunological reactivity under defined environmental conditions, therefore, is reported in this paper. Communicated is methodical experience obtained from isolation of lymphocytes from peripheral blood of calves, lymphocyte culturing, and morphological evaluation of lymphocyte transformation. Views are given on the suitability of the lymphocyte transformation test. The following results have been obtained: Centrifugation of defibrinated blood, using "Visotrast-370", is recommended for lymphocyte isolation. Morphological evaluation will ensure a high degree of precision when 1 x 10(6) cells in one millilitre culturing fluid are to be cultured over three days, the culturing fluid consisting of 20 per cent of autologous serum and 80 per cent of Eagle medium, antibiotics, and a portion of 1-vol.% of phytohaemagglutinin (Wellcome). The lymphocyte transformation test, for its methodical accuracy, is good enough to detect and identify environmental effects on immunological reactivity of calf. It is likely to reflect the immunological response to an antigen application.