Immunohistochemical evaluation of superoxide dismutase (Cu/Zn SOD) concentrations in erythrocytes of dairy cattle and farm-raised deer by a computer-assisted analysis of microscopic images.

The effectiveness of the immunohistochemical method in determining Cu/Zn SOD concentrations in red blood cells of dairy cattle and farm-raised deer was evaluated by a computer-assisted analysis of microscopic images and scanning technique. Superoxide dismutase (Cu/Zn SOD) concentrations in erythrocytes were determined in smears of whole blood samples collected from 16 Polish Holstein-Friesian cows and 22 farm-raised deer in spring. Mouse anti-bovine SOD (Cu-Zn) monoclonal antibodies (2F5, Serotec) were used in 1:50 dilution.

Serum paraoxonase-1 activity of dairy Holstein-Fresian cows in different lactation stages--preliminary study.

The objective of this study was to investigate paraoxonase-1 (PON-1) activity in different lactation stages. The study was conducted on Holstein--Friesian dairy cows in 2nd and 3rd lactation. A significant decrease in paraoxonase activity was found in the postpartum period and during peak of lactation.

The role of metal ions in biological oxidation--the past and the present.

Two theories, one based on the metabolism of inorganic substances, the other on metabolism of organic substances, have played an important role in the explanation of the origin of life. They demonstrate that the original environment of life on Earth was seawater containing micronutrients with structural, metabolic and catalytic activity. It is assumed that the first primitive organisms lived around 3.

High prevalence of Candida yeast in milk samples from cows suffering from mastitis in poland.

Mastitis is an economically important disease in which fungi belonging to the genus Candida may participate as etiological agents. This study focused on determining the frequency of fungal isolation and differentiation of fungal species isolated from milk of mastitic cows. Sixty-six milk samples from mastitic cows were studied, and 55 strains of fungi were isolated.

Concentration of bovine pregnancy associated glycoprotein in plasma and milk: its application for pregnancy diagnosis in cows.

Pregnancy diagnosis is an important part in reproduction management of ruminants. The aim of the study was to use a new method for evaluating the bPAG and cPAG in milk and blood bPAG and compare this results with the other method for pregnancy diagnosis in the cows. The study was carried out in 220 Holstein Frisian cows.

Dependence between acute phase response, oxidative status and mastitis of cows.

There are many studies exploring the topic of acute phase response and oxidative status in inflammation of the mammary gland of cows. However, many phenomena are relatively not well known. Mastitis is associated with significantly higher concentrations of inflammatory and oxidative mediators in the cells and blood.

Concentration of ascorbic acid in the blood of cows with subclinical mastitis.

The aim of the investigations was evaluation of ascorbic acia concentration in the blood or cows in the subclinical form of mastitis. The research was conducted on 56 cows. The cows were divided into 4 groups: A, B, and C with subclinical form of mastitis caused by Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus agalactiae and Escherichia col, and D control.

Role of antioxidants in the protection against oxidative stress in cattle--trace elements and enzymatic mechanisms (Part 3).

The most important enzymatic mechanisms which protect an organism against oxidative stress are superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (Px), e.g. glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and ascorbate peroxidase, catalase and glutathione reductase.

Role of the antioxidants in the protection against oxidative stress in cattle--nonenzymatic mechanisms (Part 2).

Antioxidative status consists of two mechanisms: nonenzymatic and enzymatic mechanisms. Nonenzymatic mechanisms are composed of antioxidants, scavengers of free radicals, transition metal ions, sequester transition metal ions, albumins, ceruloplasmin, and metallothioneins. On the other hand, enzymatic mechanisms are composed of superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase, catalase and reductase.

Role of transition metals ion and reactive oxygen species in biological oxidation in cattle (part 1).

Technological advances in last decades of XX centuries were well utilised in the studies of biological oxidation processes. Biological oxidation can lead to the oxidative stress and subsequently to the cell damage of animal organisms leading to many diseases. Free radical processes taking place in cattle under pathological conditions.

Evaluation of the effect of experimental cow endometritis on bactericidal capability of phagocytizing cells isolated from the blood and uterine lumen.

Studies were undertaken to assess the bactericidal activity of phagocytes isolated from blood and the uterine lumen of clinically healthy cows after ovulation, and from cows in which endometritis was induced experimentally. Experiments were carried out on 28 clinically healthy cows of the black and white lowland breed. Animals were aged 5 years and were used between the 2nd and 8th day after spontaneous ovulation.

In vitro assessment of the influence of different leucocyte count lavaged from normal and inflamed cow uterus on the mouse embryo development.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of different leucocyte count from normal and inflamed uterus in excess of PMNs on the development of mouse embryos during the morula or blastocyst stages in vitro. Results showed that cultivation of blastocysts in the presence of leucocytes washed from the uterus, after mediation of specific or nonspecific endometritis at a concentration of 1 x 10(4), led to significant inhibition of embryo development. No similar observations were made with blastocysts cultivated in the presence of leucocytes obtained from the normal uterus at 2-4 days after spontaneous ovulation.

Evaluation of selected metabolic indices for cattle in copper deficient regions.

The experiment comprised soil, herbage, and 3 groups of cattle from Cu deficient regions. Samples of blood, rumen contents, hair, urine and feces, while after slaughter, samples of the liver, kidney, brain, skeletal muscles and long bones were taken from animals under study. Low contents of copper, molybdenum, ceruloplasmin and lipid peroxides, approximately normal contents of zinc, iron, calcium, phosphorus, vitamin E and ascorbic acid, and increased concentration of sulphur were demonstrated.