[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.

[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 dry matter and various minerals in the sow endometrium during the sexual cycle]. / Zmeny v obsahu susiny a nekterych minerálií v endometriu prasnic behem pohlavního cyklu

Analyses were performed in 16 praepubertal and 85 sexually mature gilts of the Bohemian Large White breed. The content of dry matter in the endometrium of praepubertal gilts was 15.511%, on an average, and in sexually mature sows 11.968%, on an average, in the follicular phase, and 14.326% in the luteal phase. The differences are statistically highly significant (P less than 0.01). Considerable differences (mostly highly significant) were found also in the contents of calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, potassium, and chlorine in the dry matter of endometrium in praepubertal and sexually mature sows; however, these differences were less frequently dependent on individual stages of the sexual cycle. The highest content of calcium (1.112 mg g(-1)), phosphorus (8.357 mg g(-1)), and magnesium (0.720 mg g(-1)) in dry matter was found in gilts in the oestral phase, and the lowest in late or early metestrus (Ca = 0.625 mg g(-1), P = 0.6369 mg g(-1), Mg = 0.498 mg g(-1). Sodium showed the highest values in proestrus (23.359 mg g(-1)), and potassium in oestrus (13.012 mg g(-1)); their lowest values were recorded in late metestrus (Na = = 17.742 mg g(-1)) and in proestrus (K = 10.141 mg g(-1)). The content of these elements in endometrium dry matter was also much lower in praepubertal gilts than in sexually mature sows (with the exception of phosphorus); the difference was always highly significant.

[Glycogen content and the activity of alkaline and acid phosphatase (ARP and AeP) lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in the sow endometrium during the sexual cycle]. / Obsah glykogenu a aktivita alkalické a kyselé fostatázy (AF a KF) a laktátdehydrogenázy (LDH) v endometriu prasnic behem pohlavního cyklu

Biochemical indices were determined in 101 samples of endometrium taken from 16 praepubertal and 85 sexually mature gilts divided into four groups according to the stage of the cycle. On an average, glycogen content in praepubertal gilts was 3.354 mg/g-1 of fresh endometrium tissue, and in sexually mature sows 3.035 mg/g-1. A statistically and significantly higher value (4.066 mg:2.098 mg/g-1--P less than 0.01) was obtained in the luteal phase. Alkaline phosphatase showed a significantly higher level (P - less than 0.01) in sexually mature gilts than in praepubertal gilts (3291.2 mU.: :2457.7 mU). Reverse ratios were obtained (492.46 mU:687.8 mU.) in the content of acid phosphatase (P less than 0.01). In sexually mature sows the contents of AIP and AcP in endometrium were higher in the luteal phase (3624 mU. and 508.86 mU.:3085.7 mU. and 481.9 mU.). The differences between individual stages of the cycles were statistically insignificant (P less than 0.1). The content of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) was slightly lower in praepubertal gilts than in mature sows (4.89 I.U.:526 I.U.). The highest content was found in late metestrus (7.682), and the lowest in sows in proestrus (4.494 I.U.). The difference was statistically highly significant (P less than 0.01). The role of these substances in endometrium and their regulation mechanisms are dealt with in discussion.