Effect of essential oils on enzymatic activities in the intestinal apparatus and growth ability of laboratory mice.

The influence of essential oils (EOs) from medicinal and aromatic plants from sage (SA), cinnamon (CN), thyme (TH) and oregano (OR) on the amylolytic, proteolytic and cellulolytic activities in chyme of the duodenum (DU), the small (SI) and large intestine (LI), the caecum (CE) and the rectum (RE) as well as on the growth ability of laboratory ICR outbred mice were compared in four feeding trials. The negative control was present in the each trial. EOs were mixed into a feed mixture (crude protein (CP) 170.0, fibre 115.0, fat 27.0, lysine 7.0, methionine and cysteine 6.7, Ca 9.0, P 6.0 g.kg(-1) dry matter (DM), metabolic energy (ME) 10 MJ.kg(-1) DM) of experimental group as follows: 1) 6 groups (n=36, age 63 days, period 14 days) SA, CN, TH, OR, the blend of SA with OR, the dosages of EOs 0.42 except OR 0.21 ml.100 g(-1) feed, 2) 2 groups (n=12, age 28 days, period 30 days) blend of SA 0.42 with OR 0.21 ml.100 g(-1) feed, 3) 3 groups (n=18, age 28 days, period 58 days) CN and TH, both 0.5 ml.100 g(-1) feed, 4) 2 groups (n=12, age 28 days, period 8 days) the blend of CN with TH 0.42 ml.100 g(-1) feed. The peroral intake of blend of EOs from OR with SA increased the weight gains by 25 %. Additionally, it stimulated the activities of digestive enzymes in the chyme of intestinal apparatus of laboratory mice in the experimental group compared to control as follows: amylolytic by 4,138 micromol.s(-1).g(-1) and proteolytic by 282.2 mg azoalbumin.min(-1).g(-1) in SI (p<0.01), cellulolytic by 23.58 in LI and by 34.87 mmol glucose.min(-1).g(-1) in CE (p<0.01).

Effects of cadmium and zinc on the quality of quail's eggs.

We report the effects of cadmium (Cd) and zinc (Zn) on the quality of Japanese quail's eggs. For this study, 60 birds were divided into 3 groups of 20 subjects each. The animals in group 1 received 4 mg Zn/d, whereas those in group 2 were given a combination of 4 mg Zn/d and 0.12 mg Cd/d. The quails in group 3 were not given any supplements, acting as controls. The distribution of Cd and Zn in the eggs, the eggs' mass, and the strength and thickness of the shells were determined after 35 and 58 d of supplementation. Zinc showed a positive effect on the mass of eggs and accumulated mainly in the egg white. The content of Cd was significantly lower in the egg yolk of birds in group 1 (p<0.001), whereas those in group 2 had decreased eggshell thickness and strength in comparison to groups 1 and 3 (p<0.001). These results suggest that the adverse effects of Cd on the quality parameters of eggs from commercially important bird species can be, at least in part, counteracted by Zn supplementation.

Nickel seminal concentrations in various animals and correlation to spermatozoa quality.

In this study, the concentration of nickel in stallion, bull, ram, boar and fox semen, and its relation with spermatozoa quality was analyzed. The concentration of nickel in semen was 0.20 mg kg(-1) in stallion, 0.12 mg kg(-1) in bull, 0.31 mg kg(-1) in ram, 0.06 mg kg(-1) in boar and 0.36 mg kg(-1) in fox. Seminal nickel concentration was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in foxes than that in bulls and significantly higher (P < 0.01) in rams and foxes in comparison with boars. Evaluation of total pathological spermatozoa revealed the highest number in stallions followed by rams, bulls, boars and foxes. In bull, ram and boar semen, separated flagellum, flagellum torso and knob-twisted flagellum were predominant. Knob-twisted flagellum, separated flagellum and flagellum torso were found in increased number in stallion semen and broken flagellum in fox semen. Correlation analysis in bulls indicated a high positive correlation between seminal nickel and separated flagellum (r = 0.76) and medium positive correlation between nickel and flagellum torso (r = 0.62), and in rams a high positive correlation between nickel and separated flagellum (r = 0.77). Medium positive correlation was found between nickel and separated flagellum (r = 0.43) and between nickel and other pathological spermatozoa (r = 0.45) in boars.

Concentration of copper, iron, zinc, cadmium, lead, and nickel in bull and ram semen and relation to the occurrence of pathological spermatozoa.

In this study the concentration of copper, iron, zinc, cadmium, lead, and nickel in bull and ram semen and relation of these metals to spermatozoa morphology was investigated. Analysis by atomic absorption spectrophotometry showed that copper concentration was significantly higher (p<0.0001) in ram semen in comparison with bull semen. The zinc concentration was higher in bull semen in comparison with ram semen. The iron and cadmium concentrations in the semen were similar. Higher concentration of lead was found in ram semen. Higher levels of nickel were found in ram semen in comparison with bulls. In bull semen 11.79+/-4.88% of pathological spermatozoa was found. Higher occurrence of pathological spermatozoa was in ram semen (17.17+/-3.76) in comparison with the semen of bulls. Separated tail, tail torso, and knob twisted tail were the most frequent forms of pathological spermatozoa in both species. Correlation analysis in bulls showed high positive relation between iron and zinc (r = 0.72), nickel and separated tail (r = 0.76), separated tail and tail torso (r = 0.71), tail torso and total number of pathological spermatozoa (r=0.72), and between tail ball and total number of pathological spermatozoa (r = 0.78). In rams high positive correlation between cadmium and lead (r=0.98), nickel and separated tail (r=0.77), separated tail and total number of pathological spermatozoa (r=0.69), knob twisted tail and retention of cytoplasmic drop (r=0.78), and between knob twisted tail and other pathological spermatozoa (r = 0.71) was found. High negative correlation in ram semen was observed between copper and nickel (r=0.71), copper and separated tail (r=0.70), and between iron and tail torso (r=0.67). The results suggest that the studied metals have a direct effect on spermatozoa quality.

Seminal concentrations of trace elements in various animals and their correlations.

AIM: To determine the seminal concentrations of copper, zinc, iron, cadmium, lead and nickel in bulls, rams, boars, stallions and foxes and study their correlations. METHODS: Semen samples were obtained, digested and analyzed by means of the atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Data were analyzed statistically with the Student's t-test and Scheffe's test using PC programs SAS and Excel. RESULTS: The seminal copper concentration was significantly higher in ram [(2.49+/-0.18) mg/kg] and fox [(2.16+/-0.53) mg/kg] than that in bull [(1.64+/-0.21) mg/kg], boar [(1.64+/-0.28) mg/kg] and stallion (0.86 mg/kg). In boar a significantly higher seminal zinc concentration (171.74+/-65.72) mg/kg] was found in comparison with stallion [(86.20+/-45.88) mg/kg], bull [(83.15+/-61.61) mg/kg], ram [(60.46+/-35.37) mg/kg] and fox (13.09+/-5.22) mg/kg]. The iron concentration in semen was significantly higher in ram [(40.32+/-10.81) mg/kg), bull [(38.04+/-22.07) mg/kg] and fox [(33.16+/-24.36) mg/kg] than that in boar [(16.14+/-10.35) mg/kg] and stallion (12.68 mg/kg). The seminal cadmium concentration was relatively low [(0.05~0.12) mg/kg] in all studied species. The seminal lead concentration was the highest in ram [(0.35+/-0.68) mg/kg], which was much higher than in fox [(0.08+/-0.06) mg/kg], bull [(0.06+/-0.04) mg/kg], stallion [(0.05+/-0.05) mg/kg] and boar [0.02+/-0.03) mg/kg]. The level of seminal nickel was significantly higher in fox [(0.35+/-0.24) mg/kg] and ram [(0.31+/-0.19) mg/kg] in comparison with bull [(0.12+/-0.07) mg/kg] and boar [(0.06+/-0.08) mg/kg]. The concentration of nickel in the semen of stallion was (0.20 +/-0.24) mg/kg. There was a high positive correlation between seminal iron and zinc in bull (r=0.723) and stallion (r=0.723), between cadmium and lead in ram (r=0.976) and boar (r=0.973) and between iron and cadmium (r=0.783) and iron and lead (r=0.791) in boar. A high negative correlation between seminal nickel and copper in ram (r=-0.709) and between seminal copper and lead in fox (r=-0.854) was found. CONCLUSION: There are significant differences in the concentrations of seminal elements in different animals. There is a high concentration of seminal copper in ram and fox, a high zinc level in boar, a high iron level in bull, ram and fox and a high nickel level in ram and fox.

The effects of feeding emissions from a metal-producing plant upon the immune system of sheep.

The aim of our study was to asses the effects of feeding emissions of a plant producing metals from heavy metal-containing ore upon the humoral immunity in sheep. Three-year-old sheep of the Wallachian breed were included in an experiment and they were divided into two groups. The experimental group (5 animals) was administered emission-containing (prevailingly Cu and Zn) capsules for 3 weeks at a dose amounting to the twofold and during week four the threefold of the daily intake of sheep bred in the exposed area. The animals were subcutaneously immunized with ovalbumin (OVA, SIGMA A 5503) in 10% alhydrogel at a dose of 2 mg/100 kg l.w. In weekly intervals, blood samples were analyzed for specific antibody and total immunoglobulin levels. In both groups, OVA antibody formation was most pronounced in the 3rd and 5th weeks of observation. It was significantly (P < 0.01) higher in the experimental animals than in the controls (1.021, 0.641 and 1.138 vs. 0.435, 0.265 and 0.673 in the 3rd, 4th and 5th weeks, respectively). In the experimental group, total immunoglobulin concentrations slightly increased from 33.5 U ZST (starting value) to 38.72 U ZST (final value). As to the total immunoglobulin levels, no significant differences were determined between the two groups. It can be seen from the results that short-term administration of emissions promotes increased specific OVA antibody formation and a slight increase in total immunoglobulin levels. At the same time the ELISA method was proved to be suitable for specific antibody detection as a part of humoral immunity assessment.

[Dynamics of specific antibody formation in sheep after administration of industrial substrates from an aluminum plant]. / Dynamika tvorby specifických protilátok u oviec pocas príjmu priemyselného substrátu z hlinikárne.

Our observations aimed at determining the effects of supplementation with aluminium of plant emissions on specific ovalbumin antibody production in sheep by means of an ELISA method. Eleven Merino ewes aged 2.5 years were included in the experiment. The experimental group consisted of 6 animals. The daily intake of 0.75 g substrate per animal was administered after the morning feeding via a laryngeal tube. The amounts of essential and risk elements included in the substrate are given in Tab. I. All animals were subcutaneously immunized with ovalbumin (OVA, SIGMA A 5503) in 10% alhydrogel (Superhpos Ltd., Denmark) at a dose of 0.2 mg per 10 kg of live weight. The first immunization took place prior to the first gavage of emissions, the second one on day 21 of the experiment. Blood samples from the v. jugularis were collected from all animals, prior to the first immunization, in 6 weekly intervals and then in the 8th and 10th week of the experiment. A modified ELISA method (Strobel, 1983) was used to determine specific OVA antibodies in the sera. Throughout the observation period the increase of OVA antibody production appeared to be more significant in the experimental sheep. In the latter, increased specific antibody production could be detected as early as in the 1st week with maximum immunoglobulinaemia occurring in weeks 3 and 6 after OVA administration. As to specific antibody concentrations, significant differences between the experimental and the control ewes were recorded in weeks 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 of the experiment (p < 0.01).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)