The Animal Biology

9-15

Authors: O. M. Voloshchuk, G. P. Kopylchuk

The indices of copper metabolism in rats with toxic liver injury on the background of alimentary protein deficiency were studied in the research. The animals were separated into the following 4 groups: I — intact animals (C); II — animals receiving low-protein ration (LPR); III — animals subjected to acetaminophen-induced liver lesions receiving complete ration (H); IV — animals subjected to acetaminophen-induced liver lesions that were previously fed semi-synthetic low-protein ration (LPR+H). The level of ceruloplasmin in blood plasma was determined by Ravin method based on a photocolorimetrical evaluation of the products of n-phenylamide oxidation by ceruloplasmin. Determination of copper level in blood plasma and urea was conducted using set of reagents (“BIO-LA-TEST”, Czech Republic). Albumin level in blood plasma was evaluated using set of reagents (“Filisit-Diagnostics”, Ukraine). It is established that in rats with protein deficiency there is a decrease in copper level by 1.6 times comparing to control, along with a significant reduction of ceruloplasmin plasma level as well as an increased loss of copper with urine. The similar changes are found in animals with a modeled toxic liver injury, maintained on a full-value diet. It is established that the most significant disturbances of copper metabolism are observed in rats with protein deficiency and acetaminophen-induced liver injury. In rats of III group there is a 3-fold decrease in copper level in blood plasma on the background of hypoalbuminemia, and a 2-fold reduction of ceruloplasmin level in blood plasma accompanied by an increased copper content in urine. A depletion of pool of the biologically available copper may further lead to changes in functioning of the copper-dependent enzymes. Thus, it may be considered as a possible mechanism of disturbances of the metabolic processes in conditions of drug-induced intoxications against the background of alimentary protein deficiency. Obtained changes in copper metabolism indices under the conditions of toxic liver injury on a background of alimentary deprivation of protein open the new prospects for the further research into the activity of copper-containing enzymes and their role in the formation of the metabolic disturbances in the given conditions.

20-25

Authors: V. V. Dzitsiuk, H. T. Tіpіlo, Yu. V. Huzeyev

In the article the results of researches of “number of nucleolus organizer regions (NOR) in the chromosomes” in river buffalos (Bubalus of bubalis L) are expounded. In NOR of the chromosomes there is ribosomal RNA (rRNA) associated with argentophilic nucleus proteins, which provide protein synthesis in somatic cells and affect the processes of growth and development of the organism of animals and humans. The intensity of dyeing areas of nucleolar organizers reflects the potentialities of the functional state of cells in farm animals. The number, size and chromosomal localization of silver-colored areas of the organizers of the nucleolus are species-specific features. NORs have been studied on preparations of chromosomes, which were prepared according to the standard method of peripheral blood lymphocytes of 10 adult animals kept on the farm of the “Svyato-Pokrovska Holosiyivska Pustyn” monastery — Golosiyevo Ltd. (Gogoliv village, Brovarsky district, Kyiv region). Coloring of chromosomal preparations in order to detect areas of nucleolar organizers was carried out in 50 % solution of silver nitrate according to the recommendations of the Committee for Standardized Karyotype of Bubalus bubalis, 1994. The NORs were detected on the telomere of the corresponding chromosomes as dark spots. As a result of the research, active regions of the nucleolar organizers in six chromosomes of the karyotype of the investigated buffaloes — 3, 4, 6, 21, 23, 24 — were established. The individual variability of the animals was determined by the number of NORs: in the metaphase plates it was found from 1 to 12 per cell, with an average number 2.82 in 207 cells. The largest part is the proportion of metaphase plates with two NORs (93 out of 208), more than half the proportion of metaphases with three NORs, 12 % with one and four NORs. It has been shown that the Ag-method of dyeing can be successfully applied in animal cytogenetic studies as a method for evaluating the functioning of rRNA genes and metabolic activity of an organism, for the rapid identification of chromosomal aberrations, in particular translocations involving chromosomes with NO-regions. It is promising to study the NOR polymorphism in farm animals at the molecular level and to compare it with the indicators of their productivity.

34-43

Authors: S. O. Kostenko

Aquaculture, by making a powerful contribution to the production of products in the world, must be sustainable, ecological and economical. The growth of aquaculture volumes is inextricably linked with the outbreaks of infectious diseases, as they cause high mortality, severe economic losses and environmental impacts. Therefore, intensive aquaculture is not viable without preventing the spread of viruses. In a few years, vaccination has become the most important method of preventing diseases in aquaculture. Effective prevention based on the stimulation of the immune system of the fish is necessary for further development of the industry. The promising results of DNA vaccination of fish against some types of infections give hope for progress in this area in the future. However, modern vaccination methods have certain disadvantages associated with the difficulty of protecting fry, restrictions on the use of various methods of introducing a vaccine, the emergence of new viruses. The globalization of the aquaculture industry has led to an increase in the number of new viruses that infect aquatic organisms. These detected viral pathogens have proven that they are a challenge for the use of traditional cell cultures and immunological analyzes to detect new viruses for the identification of no antibodies. Virus metagenomics has the potential to detect new viruses without prior knowledge of their genome sequence data and can provide solutions for the study of unsuitable viruses. Since the populations of aquaculture objects differ in their resistance to infectious diseases, the search for animals resistant to pathogens is an important trend in modern science. Another approach to obtaining lines resistant to infection is the creation of transgenic organisms that can produce substances that improve the immune response.

55-60

Authors: Yu. O. Sisyuk, Yu. V. Kravchenko-Dovga, V. I. Karpovsky, O. V. Danchuk, O. V. Zhurenko

New scientific data concerning the degree and nature of the influence of the main characteristics of cortical processes on the activity of superoxide dismutase and the content of Copper and Zinc in the blood of cows are presented. The experiment has been conducted on cows of Ukrainian black-and-white breed of 2nd–3rd lactation with different types of higher nervous activity (HNA). Investigations of conditioned-reflex activity were performed according to the modified method of conditional-food reflexes G. V. Parshutina and T. V. Hippolyte. The research material used was blood samples of animals that determined the content of Zinc and Copper and the activity of superoxide dismutase. It has been found that in cows of strong, balanced inert and strong unbalanced type of HNA, the content of zinc in the blood was lower by 17.1 % (P<0.001) and 18.5 % (P<0.01) in accordance with indicators of strong, balanced, mobile type cows, whereas, as the contents of Copper did not differ significantly. In animals of the weak type of GNI, the content of zinc and Copper in the blood is significantly less than 8.3 % (P<0.05) and 24.6 % (P<0.001), respectively, of the animals of a strong, well-balanced, type of animal. The activity of superoxide dismutase in the blood of cows of a strong, balanced, mobile and strong, balanced inert type of HNA does not differ significantly and rises above 17.2–24.1 % (P<0.05) from the indicator of strong and unbalanced and weak type animals. The strength of the cortical processes affects the content of Copper, Zinc and the activity of superoxide dismutase in the blood of cows (P<0.01–0.05). Correlation of cortical processes significantly limits the activity of superoxide dismutase and the content of zinc in the blood (P<0.01), and the mobility of excitatory and inhibition processes in the cerebral cortex affects only the content of zinc in the blood of cows (P<0.01).

69-73

Authors: I. V. Chorna, G. V. Dronyk

The article presents the results of the study of the effect of traditional, glyphosate-resistant genetically modified soybeans and the “Roundup” herbicide on the content of total protein, urea, uric acid and creatinine in blood serum of three generations of rats. Organophosphorus fertilizers are toxic substances that can lead to a metabolic disorder, therefore the study of the influence of genetically modified soybean treated with herbicide and the “Roundup” herbicide on the level of nitrogen metabolites in the animal organism is very relevant. The research has been conducted on the rats of the Wistar line which were divided into five groups: 1st control group — intact group; 1st experimental group — 20–26 % of the feed in the diet of rats were replaced with traditional soy; 2nd experimental group — 20–26 % of the feed in the diet were replaced with genetically modified soy which had not been treated with the “Roundup” herbicide; 3rd experimental group — rats were fed genetically modified soy which had been treated with a herbicide; 4th experimental group — the rats received “Roundup” herbicide with drinking water. 42 days after the commencement of feeding traditional and genetically modified soy, the females of all groups were mated and continued to receive the same diet and herbicide in drinking water. These studies have shown that the use of a diet containing traditional and genetically modified soy which had not been treated with the “Roundup” herbicide leads to a slight increase in the nitrogen compounds level in the blood. Analysis of the results in other groups showed that using genetically modified soy which had been treated with the herbicide and watering the herbicide leads to an increase of the protein, urea, uric acid and creatinine level in three generations of rats; only in the IV group there was a slight decrease in urea in the first and subsequent generations. Such results may indicate the toxic effects of herbicide and transgenic soybeans treated with the “Roundup” herbicide and disorders of the liver and kidney of rats.